Gain fresh insight and hope for securing inner peace in today’s world from that well-known and loved Franciscan prayer of peace during a three-day Lenten parish mission that will be held at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 1500 Brookdale Road, Naperville. Beginning with Masses the weekend of March 26, “Lord, Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace” will continue with evening sessions Sunday, March 27 – Tuesday, March 29.
Guest speaker for the mission will be the Rev. Ed Shea, OFM, currently stationed at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church and Student Center in Ruston, La. As a Franciscan priest, Father Shea is well-qualified to address the topic. He also has done itinerant preaching in the Chicago area and beyond during the past several years.
Father Shea will speak during all weekend Masses at 4:30 p.m., Saturday, March 26; and at 8:00, 9:30 and 11:15 a.m., Sunday, March 27.
The schedule of evening sessions for “Lord, Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace” is:
7:00 p.m., Sunday, March 27: “Where There Is Doubt … Faith,” a reflection on the Eucharist that will conclude with benediction.
7:00 p.m., Monday, March 28: “Where There Is Injury … Pardon,” a reflection on reconciliation that will include St. Thomas’ annual parish Lenten reconciliation service.
7:00 p.m., Tuesday. March 29: “Where There Is Despair … Hope,” a reflection that will conclude the Mission with a Mass of hope.
Father Shea loves to sing and tell stories and thrives on celebrating the sacraments. Raised in Oak Park, he has been pastor at three parishes for 15 years, and has served as director of vocations and formation for the Franciscans of the Sacred Heart Province. Father Shea also has been on pilgrimages to Tanzania, Africa. A graduate of Notre Dame University, he was ordained in 1987.
Current Covid procedures will be followed during the mission. Masks are recommended, but not required. A section of the church will be available where masks will be required and social distancing will be practiced. Disposable masks and gloves, as well as hand sanitizer, also will be available for use.
A detailed list of Covid procedures that will be followed can be found on the Joliet Diocesan website (www.dioceseofjoliet.org) or the St. Thomas website (www.stapostle.org). Specific questions may be directed to the church at (630) 355-8980.
For more information about “Lord, Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace,” contact Chari Rosales, director of adult faith formation at St. Thomas, at crosales@stapostle.org or (630) 355-8980, ext. 138.
St. Thomas the Apostle, a parish of the Diocese of Joliet, strives to bear the Good News of God’s unconditional love to all generations through worship, faith formation, witness and service. Organized in 1984, the St. Thomas faith community numbers more than 3,400 households of more than 10,750 people. Complete news and information on parish events, guest speakers and special programs is available at www.stapostle.org. For general parish information, please call (630) 355-8980.
