On this FIRST day of the Novena, today's Mass focuses on Fr. Pete Jankowski's grandmother, Maria Carmela Cosenza (1911-2010), an immigrant from Cosenza, Italy who shared her love of family and faith with a "domestic Church" that started their life anew in the New World. "Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let your perpetual light shine upon her..."

Today's Mass focuses on Edwina Vincent, grandmother and secretary at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Sandwich, IL. Along with her maintenance husband Bill, Edwina has served that "peripheral community" (as Pope Francis might call it) for most of her life and the life of her family. Like other pillars like her in local parish communities, Edwina serves as the "doorway" through which parishioners encounter the first face of God at a Catholic parish. God bless Bill and Edwina and all those who dedicate their lives to their families, communities, Churches and certainly God.

The focus of this day's homily is on grandmother Ellen Fischer, who faithfully served the parishioners of St. Paul the Apostle Church while raising her children in Joliet. Ellen was such a positive influence at St. Paul's and, with staff Lillian Cepon, Ray Kaufmann and Bill Parker, served as models of compassion during the heyday of this parish's history.

The focus of this day's homily is on grandmother Sue Cordano, who, with husband Don Cordano (1934-2015), was part of Fr. Pete's daily breakfast crowd during the first twenty years of his priesthood. Dauter Marisue Grabavoy reflects on the manner in which mother, grandmother and great-grandmother Sue took care of husband Don throughout their marriage (and end of life cancer treatments) in a type of "love letter" that she writes about the matriarch of her family.

Today's Mass focuses on Cathy Weinberg, whose sacrifices made during her forty year marriage to husband Jim and their three daughters served as a model of faith that Fr. Pete remembers some fifteen years ago. Fr. Pete had the honor of celebrating the wedding Mass for two of her three daughters and spent many nights in the Weinberg home sharing stories of faith with Jim and Cathy.

Today's Mass focuses on Evangelina Hernandez, who symbolized the "heart" of her family and the heart of the St. Patrick's Community in Joliet. She and her husband Rafael helped start the Hispanic Ministry at St. Patrick's Church in Joliet, building a community from its initial phases to one of the largest communities in the city based on two words that help build parish Churches - "Bienvenidos" and "Hospitalized" - "Welcome" and "Hospitality,"

The inspiration for this ten-part reflection series on grandmothers of the faith came from Facebook reflections by Tom Jagodzinski about his own mother Genevieve, who passed away in 2017. Fr. Pete reflected on Tom's memories and his own about this grandmother; Gen reminded Fr. Pete about so many other grandmothers who have modeled this life of grace, prompting these series of homilies about this under appreciated women of faith who followed the example of the grandmother NOT mentioned in the bible, Good St. Anne (the grandmother of Jesus).

On this EIGHTH day of the Novena, Joanne Hermann represents a whole slew of wonderful mothers and grandmothers who have supported a "periphery" Church of the Joliet Diocese which might not be appreciate in the larger diocesan framework but is "home" for Joanne and generations of her family, as the Church has been for so many others. Much thanks to all those parents who, similarly to Joanne and husband John, for their dedication and love for their local parish community.

There are many ways to sacrifice for the cause of the faith. On this NINTH and LAST Day of the Novena, we focus on St. James the first apostle who died as a martyr for Christ. There are other types of martyrs in this world. Today's homily focuses on St. Anne Parishioner Linda "Cookie" Schroeder who, after fifty plus years of marriage raising the children and grandchildren, now faces the task of caring for a husband who suffers from incurable illnesses. Cookie's example of faith and dedication to her husband serves as a model by which each of us should live our Christian life in the name of God.

This is the homily that Fr. Pete offered at the Traditional Latin Mass on St. Anne's Feast Day inside the church building - July 26, 2021

This is the Homily that Fr. Pete offered at the Outdoor Novena Mass in Honor of St. Anne (in ENGLISH) on July 26, 2020.

This is the Homily that Fr. Pete offered at the Outdoor Novena Mass in Honor of St. Anne (in SPANISH) on July 26, 2020.

On this FIRST day of the Novena, Fr. Pete preaches abouty the primary importance of building a prayer life with God. As members of the Body of Christ in local communities, that prayer life must result in serving those around us in God's name - Mary's prayer must result in Martha's work.

On this SECOND Day of the St. Anne Novena... Fr. Pete speaks about the importance of the miraculous healing the relic of St. Anne has offered in the history of this relic. In his homily, Fr. Pete highlights the stories of faith and healing in today's homily.

Celebrated at the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto at St. Patrick's Church (Momence), In his homily on THIRD Day of the Novena, Fr. Pete speaks about the need to treat each person as a sacred person created by God and part of the "Body of Christ," whether the person we encounter accepts this understanding or not.

Celebrated at the Grotto of the Camino y Esperanza Retreat Center in St. Anne, IL on the FOURTH Day of the Novena, Fr. Pete speaks about how evangelization must model the farming methods of the First Century and the current Third World Farmers - by throwing the seed liberally wherever we can to produce thirty, sixty and a hundredfold.

At the St. Anne Chapel (St. Anne's Church & Shrine), Fr. Pete preaches at the FIFTH Day of this Novena about the need to stay true to the gospel message and follow God's path or whether we dedide to abandon God and go forward on our own.

Celebrated at the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto at St. Patrick's Church (Momence), In his homily on SIXTH Day of the Novena, Fr. Pete references his trip to the Holy Land with pilgrims from the Border Town who walked the steps of Jesus and focused on the importance of prayer in Jesus' life... and ours!!!

On this SEVENTH Day of the Novena (celebrated at the Pavilion of St. Anne's Church - St. Anne, IL), Fr. Pete speaks about the way society forms the individual, as opposed to the manner which God or a Catholic parent would. As referenced by Morrie Schwartz ("Tuesdays with Morrie"), "Don't let society dictate your culture - you dictate your own!"

On this EIGHTH Day of the St. Anne Novena, Fr. Pete stresses the importance of LIVING the Our Father Prayer rather than just praying it. The Our Father can be the most uplifting or daming prayers that we can say, depending on how seriously we take our relationship with God. This Mass is celebrated at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Grotto at the Camino y Esperanza Retreat House in St. Anne, IL.

Fr. Pete celebrates a Traditional Latin Mass for the faithful on St. Anne's Feast Day inside the church building - July 26, 2021

This is the homily that Fr. Pete offered at the Traditional Latin Mass on St. Anne's Feast Day inside the church building - July 26, 2021

This is the Homily that Fr. Pete offered at the Outdoor Novena Mass in Honor of St. Anne (in ENGLISH) on July 26, 2020.

This is the Homily that Fr. Pete offered at the Outdoor Novena Mass in Honor of St. Anne (in SPANISH) on July 26, 2020.

CLICK HERE to View Pictures from Past St. Anne Novena Celebrations!

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