New Year’s Resolutions
This Sunday, we as a Church begin a “new year!” So Happy Catholic New Year! Every Advent, we begin a new liturgical cycle and relive the mysteries of our salvation ‘from the top,’ starting with this season of postured anticipation of our Savior, who will be born among us again at Christmas. We move from studying Luke on most Sundays to Matthew. In all of our liturgical books, we make what we as seminarians used to call the “big flip,” moving all the ribbons from the very back of the books to the front.
I’m not sure it’s ever necessarily been the practice to make “spiritual resolutions” at the beginning of a new liturgical year, but I think this ‘new beginning’ does present us with a perfect opportunity: to examine our spiritual lives with fresh eyes; to ask the Lord to illumine those ways in which He is calling us to grow deeper in the mystery and in the practice of our faith; and to resolve to adhere to some simple and achievable practices in this coming year.
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Come to confession, especially if it’s been a long time. Experience a fresh start!
- If you don’t already, pray with your family before meals or kneel by your bedside every night and thank God for the beauty of another day.
- Commit to reading the Scriptures every day, at least for Advent. Read a single chapter of one of the Gospels or start with the Book of Psalms. If you want something systematic, look up the Bible in a Year program; it only takes about 20-30 minutes/day.
- Spend a weekly or monthly hour in adoration. Start coming to our parish’s adoration chapel, or take a nighttime hour for Advent or the coming year!
- Pray the Rosary daily or weekly or spend your commute offering a Divine Mercy Chaplet.
- Invite a friend or relative back to Mass! Be gentle and welcoming, witnessing to them the reason why you love your faith.
- Ever tried going to a daily Mass? Try going one extra day a week. If Sunday Mass is difficult, commit to every Sunday, no exceptions.
- Pick a different thing to fast from every week (coffee, snacking, salt, dessert, social media/internet, etc.). Offer the little suffering for someone you know who is sick or in need of your prayers.
- Explore the world of Catholic podcasts or apps. There’s so much out there!
- Follow our parish and the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois on Facebook or Instagram. Share a post every once in a while. Be “that” person that shares their faith on social media!
- Consider your contributions to our parish and school or to a favorite local charity. Commit to living discipleship more in your financial life.
- Pick up a book for spiritual reading. Learn about the saints. Dive in deeper with some theology or spiritual classics. If you need suggestions, call me!
The options are endless; just be sure to pick something you can accomplish. Don’t try and do everything; but as a spiritual director once told me, “Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.” Resolve to do something good, even if we’re never going to implement it perfectly. One thing I know is that our Lord can never be outdone in generosity—if we commit to growing with the Lord, even a small effort can be met with great reward!
Keep spreading joy!
Fr. Friedel
Join us for Mass on Thanksgiving Day at 8:15 AM
Women's Advent Book Study
"Holy Moments" by Matthew Kelly
Wednesday evenings from 7-8 PM
Rectory Basement
Begins Wednesday, December 3
Advent is a few days away! Looking for a way to enhance this liturgical season? Check out this Advent resource calendar below and download your own copy on the right...
Ring in the Holiday season with the resplendent music of Bach & Handel! Please join the singers of the Choral Society in the gorgeous surroundings of Blessed Sacrament Church on Saturday, December 6 for this beloved annual tradition. And be sure to bring along a warmed-up voice for the obligatory sing-along encore of the Hallelujah Chorus!
Tickets: $20, available either online or at the door. Concert is expected to sell out, so advance booking is recommended. Click the button below to go to the ticket sales site.
Tickets: $20, available either online or at the door. Concert is expected to sell out, so advance booking is recommended. Click the button below to go to the ticket sales site.
Would you prefer to read the actual bulletin online? Click on the button to the right for a virtual copy of this week's bulletin.
Become a Bruin Buddy!
As we celebrate the centennial of our parish and school, we are reminded that educating our youth has always been our greatest mission. This fall we encourage you to consider becoming a Bruin Buddy, sharing your time and unique talents with our school community. Whether you read stories, help in the lunchroom, check out books in the library, or share a special skill, your involvement – no matter how big or small – will make a difference and deepen our school and parish bonds. Volunteer applications can found on the parish website and in the back of church.
Pilgrimage 2026
Join Fr. Friedel and Fr. Chris House on a pilgrimage to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland to tour the sacred treasures of the Alps! Some of our destinations include Munich, Ettal Monastery, Oberammergau, Innsbruck, Vaduz, the Abbey of St. Gallen, Lucerne, Lake Constance, and Bern. Our twelve-day pilgrimage will leave July 6 and return on July 17.
For cost, a detailed itinerary of the trip, and to sign up, please visit https://holylandtoursllc.com/tour/779. Space is limited, so sign up now to guarantee your spot with us.
SAVE THESE DATES!
Fun events upcoming for both school and parish!
From other parishes...
Job Opening – Parish Office Secretary St. Jude Catholic Church in Rochester is looking for a Parish Secretary. If you are interested, please contact the parish office at (217) 498-9197 to obtain the job description and schedule an interview.
St. Frances Cabrini Parish invites you to
The Nativity Festival
Away in a Manger
Senior Day, Friday, December 5, 2025 9 – 11 a.m.
Saturday, December 6, 2025 & Sunday December 7, 2025
10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m
Free admission
Refreshments and Entertainment on Saturday Sunday
St. Cabrini Parish
Advent at Cathedral
Cathedral Women's Bible Study will be reading and reflecting on the Sunday Mass Scripture readings for the four Sundays in Advent. Join us at 10:00 or 1:00 on Nov 6, 13 and Dec 4, 11 in the Cathedral school library. FREE and open to all women.
Extended Confession times will again be offered at the Cathedral on Friday, Dec 19 - noon to 6:00pm and Saturday, Dec 20 - 7:00am to 4:00pm
Rorate Caeli Candlelight Mass will again be held again at 6:00am on Saturday, Dec 20.
Ursuline Campus Tour - Sneak Peek Inside
Join us for a special preview of these historic gems! Guided tours of the three story, 1867 original schoolhouse, the 1895 Romanesque chapel and the 1908 music conservatory. See how far Preservation, Inc has come restoring these iconic landmarks. Guided tours begin at 1:00pm on November 22. Meet at the circle drive entrance/school building entrance, 1400 North 5th Street.
Join us for a special preview of these historic gems! Guided tours of the three story, 1867 original schoolhouse, the 1895 Romanesque chapel and the 1908 music conservatory. See how far Preservation, Inc has come restoring these iconic landmarks. Guided tours begin at 1:00pm on November 22. Meet at the circle drive entrance/school building entrance, 1400 North 5th Street.