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SI 101 is an 8‑week group for men or women who desire healing and growth in areas of sexual brokenness. These groups will be gender specific. God created our sexuality as good, yet many of us struggle with patterns, wounds, or behaviors that leave us feeling stuck or lacking freedom.

These groups offer a safe and confidential space to honestly address those struggles, understand what drives them, and pursue restoration. Through teaching, reflection, and community, participants are invited into deeper intimacy with Jesus and the freedom He offers.

All men and women interested in participating or simply helping others on their journey, please join us for an informational meeting on Wednesday, May 6th at 6:30pm. Groups will begin on May 20th.

If you are unable to attend on the 6^th but are interested in more information, connect with us below or contact Joey or Julia.

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The Parish Hospitality Directors will sponsor the Spring Senior Luncheon on Wednesday, May 13th at noon in Shamrock Hall. The theme is “Garden Party” with a menu that will include many salads (chicken, ham, lettuce, fruit, macaroni, etc.) along with Hawaiian rolls and croissants to make sandwiches. We will also serve a variety of homemade desserts. Kelsey Durdle, co-owner of Casey’s Garden Shop and Niepagen’s Flower Shop, will be our featured speaker. She will share information about how she and her husband recently purchased these two shops and great flowers to plant for the summer. Please join us for this fun spring social event! Sign up using the button below, or contact the main office at (309) 662-7361.

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Totus Tuus is a great week-long Catholic program to help your children and teens learn more about their faith and grow closer to Jesus through a relationship with his mother, Mary! College-age students travel to various parishes over the summer to offer our youth the chance to see that learning about and celebrating our faith doesn’t have to be boring. They engage students in classes, songs, skits, and games, all while deepening their understanding of the faith and showing them how to live it out day-to-day. We bet your kids have never had this much fun at church! Make plans to join us this summer at St. Patrick Church of Merna for another awesome week of Totus Tuus!

Contact Erin with any questions!

Registration

Daytime Program (Incoming 1st – 6th Graders)

Dates: Monday, June 29 – Friday, July 3

Time: 9am – 2:30pm each day

Location: St. Patrick Church of Merna

Cost: $50 for 1 child; $70 for 2 children; $90 for 3 or more children; Scholarships are available

Evening Program (Incoming 7th – 12th Graders)

Dates: Sunday, June 28 – Thursday, July 2

Time: 6:30pm – 8:15pm each day

Location: St. Patrick Church of Merna

Cost: $15 per teen; Scholarships are available

Teen Volunteers Needed

• Volunteer opportunities are available for teens entering 7th through 12th grade. Help is needed during our daytime program (Monday-Friday, 9am-2:30pm).
• We strongly encourage all youth volunteers to attend the evening teen program as a participant. It is structured for teens, and a lot of fun! If you would like to earn service hours for your volunteer time, you must attend at least 3 of the 5 nights!
• A “Code of Conduct” contract will be sent to all volunteers closer to the time of the program. This contract will need to printed and signed by the volunteer and a parent, and turned in on your first day of service.
• Any volunteers 18 and over will need to complete the Diocese of Peoria’s Safe Environment training. We will contact you with more information if this applies to you.

Details:

April 15th at 7:30pm; St. Patrick Church of Merna

Step into the quiet strength of St. Joseph – he was entrusted by God to teach Jesus to be a man, and he points all men to Jesus’ saving grace. Join us for an evening of reflection, brotherhood, and renewal as we look to St. Joseph’s example of poverty, chastity, and obedient love. All ages welcome: fathers, bring your sons!

Details:

Theme: Rainforest Falls: Exploring the Nature of God

When: Monday, June 1 – Thursday, June 4; 6pm – 8pm

Where: St. Patrick Church of Merna

Who: All children age 4 years old by Aug. 31, 2026 through entering 6th grade

Register Online: Click the button below; Deadline to register is April 30th!

Registration Fee: $45 for 1 child, $55 for 2 children, $65 for 3 or more children; Scholarships available!

More information about the schedule, drop-off and pick-up procedures, etc. will be available in your family packets which will be distributed at the end of May. Contact Jenny Cook with any questions.

Teen Volunteers:

Thank you for your interest in volunteering to help with Vacation Bible School 2026! Our program will take place June 1-4 at St. Patrick Church of Merna; volunteers will serve from 5:30pm-8pm each night.

In order to provide the best experience for everyone involved with VBS, we have reworked certain areas of our programming. Due to these changes, we are expecting to receive more applications than positions available for teen volunteers. Filling out this form does not guarantee receiving a volunteer position. 

Application Procedures:

• We will accept applications through Friday, May 1st.
• The teen applying is expected to fill out this application to the best of their ability. 
• You will receive an email during the week of May 4th notifying you of your assignment to a particular position or to the waiting list.
• If you are offered a position, you must reply and accept it by Monday, May 11th. If we do not hear from you by this date, we will offer the position to someone else.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we work to grow and improve our VBS program! If you have any questions, please contact our VBS Director, Jenny Cook, or Teen Volunteer Director, Erin Okrzesik

Adult Volunteers:

We cannot hold Vacation Bible School without our amazing adult volunteers! Please fill out the application using the button below. We do our best to accommodate everyone’s first choice of volunteer area.

VBS will take place June 1-4 at St. Patrick Church of Merna (1001 N Towanda Barnes Rd., Bloomington). Volunteer hours are 5:30-8pm each night. 

Please feel free to contact Jenny Cook, VBS Director, with any questions.

Details:

Cubs/Cards Bus Trip to Busch Stadium in St. Louis

Thursday, July 30th @ 1:15pm 

• $120 per person – Includes ticket (section 135), bus transportation, bus parking across the street, snacks and refreshments on the bus.
• Seating is limited; payment will be done electronically. Click the button below to sign up.
• Estimated departure will be at 8am and return around 9pm.

For more information contact Jeff Lopez at jeff@mheparish.org or 309-662-7361.

Details:

The Diocese of Peoria is releasing a high-quality colored history book. This book will include pictures and a brief history of every church in the diocese, and only one printing will be run. 

Most Holy Eucharist Parish has 150 copies available for sale at $50 per copy. If you would like to reserve a copy, please click the button below.

The book will arrive at the end of May, at which time notifications will be sent to those who pre-ordered. Contact the parish office with any questions.

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Proclaiming Christ yesterday, today, forever

Our parish is once again participating in the Annual Diocesan Appeal (ADA) for the Diocese of Peoria. As the diocese celebrates its 150th anniversary, we are reminded of our mission as Christians. We are called to proclaim the Gospel yesterday, today, and forever. The Annual Diocesan Appeal gives us an opportunity to respond by sharing our gifts which will enable and equip the Church for today’s opportunities and challenges in witnessing to our faith. There are many ministries and apostolates that the Diocese can offer that we as a single parish cannot. Recruitment and training of priests, vocation discernment program for young men, marriage preparation, ministry to our students on college campuses, evangelization, Catholic Charities programs… these are just a few of the many services we receive from the Diocese of Peoria. Your support, in prayer and through your sacrificial gift to the Annual Diocesan Appeal, makes it possible to provide these services. Please prayerfully consider making a pledge to this year’s appeal at cdop.org/ada.

View the Bishop’s annual ADA video below:

The goal for our parish, Most Holy Eucharist, is $324,278 and we can reach it only with your help. 

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