Letters from Fr. Andre

A Christmas Message for Our Parish Family

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Merry Christmas! As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, I want to share my heartfelt gratitude for each of you. This is my first Christmas here with you, and I already feel deeply blessed to be part of this parish family. I am still learning names and getting to know your families, but already I feel so welcomed and at home here. Thank you for the kindness, support, and faith you have shown me in these first months together.

Christmas reveals a God who comes close – gently and personally – bringing hope to the weary, light to places of darkness, and peace to restless hearts. Whatever this year has been for you, the Child in the manger reminds us: You are loved. God is with you. There is always hope.

I am grateful for the many ways you help make our parish a place of welcome, prayer, and compassion. Whether you serve in ministry, pray quietly from the pews, or are simply returning home in faith – you are a gift to this community. Together, we are building a home where hearts are lifted and where more people can encounter the love of God.

My prayer for you and your loved ones this Christmas:

May Jesus renew your joy where life has been heavy,

May His peace surround your home and your relationships,

And may His love guide and strengthen you in the year ahead.

It is a joy and a blessing to walk with you. May Christ’s light shine ever more brightly in our parish and in every heart we meet.

Thank you (Salamat)

Fr. Andre Beltran

November 19, 2025

A Pastoral Message to Our Parish Family

Dear beloved parish community,

I would like to offer a heartfelt apology if I have not been able to return your calls or emails as quickly as you hoped. Please know it is never my intention to overlook anyone. Your needs truly matter to me.

In past years, a parish of our size was served by two or even three priests. At this time, I am serving alone and carrying all of the administrative, pastoral, and sacramental responsibilities. Because of this, there are days when the workload becomes more than one priest can manage. When I fall behind, it is never out of lack of care, but simply the reality of being stretched very thin.

I humbly ask for your patience, your understanding, and your prayers. Even if my response is delayed, please trust that you are never forgotten. I remain committed to serving you with the love, compassion, and dedication that our parish deserves.

Thank you (Salamat)

Father Andre

December 14th- Third Sunday of Advent- Joy When Life Feels Heavy

Joy is not a feeling we create - it is a gift we receive when we know that God is close. Gaudete Sunday invites us to lift our eyes, soften our hearts, and notice the quiet ways the Lord draws near. Even in a busy season, joy can rise within us when we welcome God into the ordinary moments of our days. As St. Paul reminds us, “The Lord is near. Rejoice in Him always.” (Philippians 4:4-5)

Yet joy is not always easy. Many among us carry heavy burdens - the loss of a loved one, a hurting marriage, a family wound, health worries, financial pressures, or the quiet heaviness of spiritual dryness. Others carry the grief of what is happening in the world: wars, violence, and divisions that leave us feeling small and powerless. Gaudete Sunday is not about pretending life is easy. It is about believing that God can bring life, healing, and hope even to the barren places of our lives - to our marriages, our hearts, our families, our health, and the corners of our souls that feel

forgotten.

Joy is quieter and deeper than happiness. It does not erase sorrow but gently sits beside it. It rises slowly, like dawn after a long night. C. S. Lewis once said that joy is “the serious business of heaven,” reminding us that it is God’s work more than ours.

Mary is our companion in this kind of joy. She lived with uncertainty and fear yet carried Christ within her. Her joy was humble, steady, and rooted in trust. As we celebrate our 150th Anniversary, we remember how Mary has walked with our parish through every generation, leading us always toward her Son, who is our joy and peace.

Please join us for Adoration and Benediction of Wednesday, December 17, from 5:00-7:00pm. In the quiet of the Eucharist, we can rest, breathe, and let Jesus carry what feels heavy. In that stillness, joy begins to grow again.

As Christmas approaches, please see our Christmas Mass schedule on the parish website, in the bulletin, and on our social media platforms. We hope this helps you and your family plan your celebration of the Lord’s birth.

Gaudete Sunday invites us to rejoice not because life is perfect, but because Christ is near - near to the grieving, the tired, the overwhelmed, and the hopeful. May His nearness bring you a joy that no darkness can take away, and may our parish walk this path of hope together.

Fr. Andre Beltran, Parish Administrator

December 7th - Second Sunday of Advent- Peace that Comes From Trusting God

Peace is not the absence of problems. Peace is the presence of God. No one lived this truth more beautifully than Mary. She trusted God even when she could not see the whole path before her. This Second Sunday of Advent invites us into that same peace - a peace that grows gently in a heart that trust

During Advent, we walk with Mary, our Mother and patroness, who teaches us how to wait with

patience, listen in stillness, and welcome Christ into the quiet places of our hearts. As we celebrate our 150th Anniversary, we remember how often Mary has guided and protected our parish. Her steady presence reminds us that when we surrender our worries to God, He fills us with a peace the world cannot give.

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception – Monday, December 8

On this beautiful feast of Our Lady, we honor the purity and holiness of Mary, chosen to carry the Light of the World. We will celebrate a 7:30am Mass, followed by an 8:00am Rosary.

In the evening the Women’s Guild of St. Mary and the Faith and Fellowship Men’s Ministry will lead a 6:15pm Rosary, followed by a 7:00pm Mass, commemorating the 60th Anniversary of Vatican II, which reaffirmed the universal call to holiness and the essential mission of the laity.

Advent Speaker – Tuesday, December 9

We are blessed to welcome Rev. Brendan Lupton, a beloved son of our parish and professor of theology at Mundelein Seminary. He will offer a reflection on the Council of Nicaea – the gathering that affirmed the full divinity of Christ and safeguarded the faith we profess.

While Nicaea did not speak directly about the laity, the faith it defended is the same faith that Vatican II entrusted to all the baptized. In a time of priest shortages, Vatican II reminds us that the laity share in Christ’s mission and are called to active leadership in parish life and service. Please join us and welcome Fr. Brendan home at 7:00pm in the church.

Adoration and Benediction – Wednesday, December 10

Come rest in the Lord’s presence. In the stillness of Eucharistic adoration, peace finds a home with us. (5:00 to 7:00pm)

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe – Friday, December 12

We honor Mary, Patroness of the Americas, who appeared to St. Juan Diego with tenderness and hope. The 7:30am Mass on this day will be dedicated to Mary. This is a beautiful moment to entrust our families and parish to her loving care.

The Church of St. Mary’s Annual Report for Fiscal 2025 is available below. [Under “Parish Financial Counsel]

May Mary lead us closer to the deep peace that only her Son can give. May we walk this path of peace together as a parish family rooted in faith, love, and hope.

Fr. Andre Beltran, Parish Administrator

Past Letters: