ALGONQUIN 

♦ St. Margaret Mary -- 111 S. Hubbard St.     

March 18-19, 7 p.m. Father Jonathan Bakkelund, diocesan Director of the Office of Divine Worship, will speak on Mass and the Eucharist: what happens at Mass, the Mass as evangelization and getting more out of Mass.  

 

AURORA 

♦ St. Therese of Jesus -- 271 N. Farnsworth Ave.     

March 25, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Father Timothy Mulcahey, pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, will lead a Lenten retreat in English. Free will donation. 

 

BYRON 

♦ St. Mary -- 226 E. 2nd St. 

March 19-21, 6:30 p.m. Led by Msgr. Eric Barr; will focus on the Eucharist. Topics include seeing the presence of God in the world, the Real Presence in the Eucharist and the Mass.  

 

CRYSTAL LAKE 

♦ St. Elizabeth Ann Seton -- 1023 McHenry Ave.     

March 12-14, 6:30 p.m. Father Keith Romke, pastor, will lead a “spiritual pilgrimage to the Holy Land,” explaining the life of Jesus in significant geographical areas of the Holy Land. Each night will begin with 30 minutes of praise and worship, followed by a talk.  

 

ELGIN 

♦ St. Mary -- 400 Fulton St.   

March 20-22, 7-8:30 p.m., in the school gym. Led by Deacon Ron “Willie” Williams; will share stories from his three Camino de Santiago pilgrimages. Will include a concert of praise and worship music. 

 

FREEPORT 

♦ St. Thomas Aquinas -- 1400 Kiwanis Dr.   

March 15, 5:30 p.m., starting with vespers in the church and moving to the O’Neill Center for a soup dinner, followed by a talk. Father Richard Simon, host of “Father Simon Says” on Relevant Radio, will cover “everything you ever wanted to know about repentance.” 

 

GENEVA 

♦ St. Peter -- 1891 Kaneville Rd.  

March 13-15, 7 p.m. Diocesan seminarian Ryan Nooraee will speak on “Lent and the theological virtues: Faith, hope, charity and how to survive the desert.” Each night will focus on a different virtue (in order). 

 

JOHNSBURG 

♦ St. John the Baptist -- 2302 W. Church St.  

Tuesdays, starting March 7 and continuing for 8 weeks, 7-8 p.m., in the church. Will cover “Theology of the Body for Beginners” by Christopher West.

 

LEE 

♦ St. James -- 221 W. Kirke Gate

March 12-14. Starts March 12 with a breakfast at 9:30 a.m. in the parish hall. Nights are at 7 p.m. in the church, roughly 90 minutes. Father Robert Miller, an author and retreat director, will team up with Dr. Mark Nimo, director of religious education for the Archdiocese of Chicago, to present on the Trinity. Will include music, confession, and a healing service. Free will offering.    

 

ROCHELLE 

♦ St. Patrick -- 244 Kelley Dr.

March 14, starting at 6 p.m. Deacon Richard Marcantonio of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Crystal Lake, will speak on the Eucharist. 

 

ROCKFORD

♦ Holy Family -- 4401 Highcrest Rd. 

March 27-29, 6:30 p.m. Father Brian Mullady, OP, a mission preacher and retreat master for the Western Dominican Province, will speak on topics surrounding Jesus and Lent: Jesus and the need for redemption, Jesus as mediator and Jesus’ mission. 

 

♦ St. Anthony of Padua -- 1010 Ferguson St.

March 27-28, 6:30 p.m. Talks end at 7:30 p.m.; March 28 

will have adoration and confessions until 8 p.m. Mike Pacer, author and father of diocesan priest Father Nathan Pacer, will speak on “Confronting Christ and living life,” focusing on conversion of heart and healing.  

 

 

STERLING 

♦ Sacred Heart -- 2224 Ave. J 

March 21-22, 7-8 p.m., in the church building. Deacon Jason Stewart will speak on his conversion to Catholicism from the Protestant faith. 

 

WOODSTOCK 

♦ St. Mary -- 312 Lincoln Ave. 

March 19, 21-22, 7-8 p.m. Father Keith Romke will lead three talks on confession, the Eucharist and Confirmation titled “Strive to Thrive in Your Sacramental Life.” An evening of adoration, praise and worship will also be held March 20, 7 p.m., at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Crystal Lake.