Saint Edmund Parish Echoes Reaching out from the heart of Oak Park January 18, 2015 Parish Office 188 S. Oak Park Avenue Oak Park, Illinois 60302; Telephone: 708-848-4417; Fax Line: 708-848-0049 Parish Center Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 9am - 8pm, Friday, 9am - 4pm Saturday 9am - 3pm; Sunday 9:00am - 1pm Visit the parish web-site at stedmund.org. You may also e-mail us from the web-site. Parish School and School of Religious Education 200 S. Oak Park Avenue Oak Park, Illinois 60302 School Telephone: 708-386-5131 · School of Religious Education Telephone: 708-848-7220 · Shared Fax Line: 708-386-5616 Parish Administration and Staff Rev. John McGivern, Pastor Ms. Peggy Leddy, Pastoral Associate Mrs. Maria Allori, Development Director Mrs. Janet Bennick, Coordinator of Religious Education Deacon Thomas Dwyer, Parish Business Manager Mr. Donald Giannetti, Parish Assistant Mrs. Kathleen Halfpenny, Director of Music Mrs. LaVerne Johnson, Parish School Secretary Mrs. Christine A. Rousakis, Manager, Parish Office Mr. Michael Sweeney, Parish School Principal Mr. Al Vargas, Facilities Manager Rev. John Lucas, In Residence Rev. John O’Callaghan, S.J., W eekend Presider Rev. Msgr. Richard Hynes, W eekend Presider All are welcome. An entrance ramp and push-bar automatic door is located at the eastern entrance of the church. Personal hearing devices are also available from the ushers/greeters. S t a ff N o t e s 2 Catholic Schools Week January 25 - January 31 Where would we be without Catholic schools? Our schools provide enormous benefits to the state. They nurture Gospel values and education in an increasingly cynical and secular world and they help parents transmit the faith of the next generation of the Catholic Church to the next generation. - Alexander J. Brunett, Archbishop of Seattle (1997-2010) Catholic Schools Week is one of the high points of the school year for Catholic School communities. Along with 83,000 school children in the Archdiocese of Chicago and their peers across the country, St. Edmund Parish School students will mark the beginning of this year’s Catholic Schools Week next Sunday, January 25 at the 9:30am Mass. An Open House will be held in the school immediately following Mass. All parishioners are warmly invited to attend. In addition to the Catholic Schools Week Mass and Open House, the St. Edmund Family School Connection (FSC) is sponsoring the annual book fair that will be held in the school’s resource room. Other events during the week include Student and Teacher Appreciation Days, an all-school assembly, student-teacher relay races, an ice cream social and much more. A reading night event will be held from 6:00pm-8:00pm on Friday, January 30 and parishioners are cordially invited. More information will be available shortly in the parish bulletin. This year’s Catholic School Week theme is faith, knowledge, and service. This theme Mass Schedule Monday-Friday: 8:30am Saturday: 8:30am; 5:30pm (Sunday Anticipatory) Sunday: 8am, 9:30am, 11:30am, 6:00pm Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturday: 4:15pm (located in west end of north transept) Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick Call the Parish Office. A Minister of Care is also available to bring Holy Communion to our parish sick and homebound. New Parishioners We welcome new parishioners at all times. Please stop in the Parish Office during business hours to register. encompasses the basic tenets of a Catholic education. First, schools are communities – small families in their own right, but also members of the larger community of home, church, city, and nation. As a parent, you always want what’s best for your child, whether that means their health, education, or faith. By choosing to send your child to a Catholic school, you are providing them a unique opportunity to grow in Christ while performing at high academic standards. This is an ideal that is exemplified through our students: they live their faith, they focus on academic achievement, they embrace service, and celebrate diversity. A measure of the value of a Catholic elementary education is how well its graduates are prepared for the rigors of competitive high schools. St. Edmund Parish school students are well prepared as evidenced by the success of our recent graduates. In the past three years our eighth graders have been accepted at many of the area’s most distinguished Catholic schools, including St. Ignatius, Fenwick, Trinity, and St. Patrick, in addition to Oak Park River Forest High School. On behalf of the St. Edmund Parish School community, I would like to thank our Pastor, Fr. John McGivern and the St. Edmund parishioners for their continuing support of the parish school. I look forward to working together to insure that families will continue to have the choice of sending their children to Catholic school in the future. Thank you for supporting Catholic education, Michael Sweeney Parish School Principal Sacrament of Marriage In order to schedule a wedding, you or your parents must be registered, participating parish members for at least one year prior to setting the date. Sacrament of Baptism for Infants Parents need to register for the preparation class at least six weeks in advance. Expectant parents are welcome to attend class before the baby’s birth. The date of Baptism is not confirmed until both parents complete the class. Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) Adults seeking to complete the sacraments of initiation or inquire about becoming Catholic may call the Parish Office for information. Watching for the Messiah Today’s Gospel story of John and his disciples seeing and following Jesus sounds so simple and casual, it’s easy to miss the significant acts of faith that are made. John points to Jesus: “Look,” he says, “there is the Lamb of God.” John’s faith in Jesus is evident, so evident that John’s disciples immediately leave his side to follow Jesus. The two disciples make their own act of faith. They follow Jesus, spend time with him, and are quick to spread the good news of their discovery: “We have found the Messiah.” It is easy to forget that the expectations of generations, the hopes of many ages of faithful people were being fulfilled in these simple acts of faith. The Lamb of God, the Messiah, foretold by the prophets, had finally come. Nearly everyone among the Jewish people was watching for the Messiah back then; who in our own society watches for signs of the presence of the Messiah today? Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co. 3 Ordinary Time Second Sunday in Parish Office/Parish School Closed Flu Season and Reception of Holy Communion Please note that the Parish Office and Parish School will be closed on Monday, January 19 for the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. There are some simple common sense responses to legitimate worries about liturgical practices during flu season. We suggest the following: In addition, there will be no Eucharistic Adoration this day. It will resume on Monday, January 26 at 2pm. − If you are ill, stay home! “I have a dream…” 2015 Archdiocesan Annual Catholic Appeal Begins “Entrusted with Responsibility” Many of you have responded to the Annual Catholic Appeal mailing from Archbishop Cupich. On behalf of those served by the ministries and services funded by the Annual Catholic Appeal, we thank you for your gifts. If you have received the mailing and have not responded, please do so as soon as possible. The Appeal supports both parish and Archdiocesan ministries. Among these ar e ministr ies that pr ovide religious education to children, youth and adults. It is also one of the largest philanthropic sources of financial support for Catholic schools in the Archdiocese. The appeal also funds services that are of great help to other ministries here within our own parish. This year, the theme of the Appeal is: “Entrusted with Responsibility”. We each have a responsibility to recognize God’s gifts to us and to nurture them. As we contemplate His gifts to us, we should also reflect on our gratitude for these gifts. Your financial support for the work of our parish, of our Archdiocese and of the Church throughout the world is, in fact, one way to express this gratitude. Please consider the materials that you will receive and give generously. As you review the mailing from Archbishop Cupich, please note the ministries and services funded by the Appeal, including the ones that directly support the work of our parish. Then please give generously. Note that when our parish reaches its goal of $44,119.00 paid pledges, 100% of the additional funds received will be returned to us for use in our parish. Collection for the Church in Latin America This Weekend, January 17-18 For many in the twenty-two countries of South America and the Caribbean, the funds from this collection provide the only help that parishes receive to sustain and enrich the faith of their parishioners. Your contributions to this collection will assist in the formation of seminarians, permanent deacons, religious sisters and brothers, and lay ministers of the Gospel. Extra envelopes may be found in the pews. We are grateful for your support. Those exhibiting flu-like symptoms: fever, chills, headache, nausea, cough, sore throat, etc. should stay home! You may participate in the mass remotely, by viewing a televised liturgy. Staying home when feeling under the weather is NOT sinful behavior! − Sometimes a warm verbal greeting works fine too! At the Greeting of Peace, in addition to a handshake or a cordial embrace, a genuinely warm verbal exchange of peace is also an acceptable offering of peace. − We are one in faith whether we hold hands or not. Though some enjoy holding hands during the Lord’s Prayer, it may be prudent during the flu season to refrain from this particular expression of unity. − Should I drink from the Cup? Please use common sense in deciding whether to drink from the shared Cup. If you have a sniffle, the beginning of a sore throat, the remaining vestiges of a cold, etc., we encourage you to receive only the Body of our Lord in Holy Communion. − I’ve never received Communion in the hand before. While we respect your preferred way of receiving the Lord Jesus in Holy Communion, we ask you to consider having the Eucharistic Minister reverently place the Blessed Sacrament into the palm of your hand. If you are a Eucharistic Minister… −Before and after you perform your ministry, you are asked to use the hand sanitizers now conveniently placed near both sides of the sanctuary steps. − Ministers of the Cup, are reminded to wipe it thoroughly after each person drinks, and continually to rotate the cup position. Of course, good hygiene is recommended for all. Remember always to cover your cough with the crook of your elbow or a tissue. Avoid the use of hands whenever possible. These simple instructions will go a long way in keeping the Body of Christ healthy as we continue to receive the Body of Christ. 2014 Tax Contribution Record If you would like a copy of your 2014 financial contributions to St. Edmund Parish, please email you request to: [email protected] or call the Parish office at 708-848-4417, extension 201. Let us save some trees and also help to reduce paper and rising postage costs! 4 Parish School News The third graders in Ms. Polacek’s class have jumped right back into learning after break. We are ready for a great 2015! They started out by creating New Year’s resolutions to help themselves and others. They then took a second look at goals that they had created in the beginning of the year and decided how well they were working towards their goals and what they need to do to continue to reach them. After regrouping and organizing for the new year, the third graders began a couple projects. They created “Lost” posters for snowman they made, using descriptive sentences. The students used Thesaurus’s to make “Synonym rolls” and “Antonym Ants” that listed synonyms for a specific word and two different antonyms. This next week they will learn about Martin Luther King Jr. and come up with their own dreams for the school, community, and themselves. The students in Pre-K 3 are continuing to learn about bears! This week the children used forks to paint a paper plate to make a brown bear. We also discussed the different types of bears (panda, brown, black, and polar) and special facts about those bears! The children then had the opportunity to decide which bear is their favorite and graph their name underneath the appropriate bear. NEXT SUNDAY, JANUARY 25 ~ OPEN HOUSE KICK-OFF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK 10:30am - 1pm Look for the Special insert in the bulletin and join us! School of Religious Education Parents/guardians preparing a child for First Eucharist in the Spring are asked to attend the meeting that will be held today, Sunday, January 18 at 11:00am in the Parish School gymnasium. At this meeting the materials that will be used to prepare the child for reception of the Sacrament will be given out. Please be sure to attend this important meeting. In addition, all children preparing for First Eucharist along with their families are invited to attend a special Day of Eucharist on Sunday, February 1. The day will begin with attendance at the 9:30am Mass where a special enrollment blessing will be offered and we will continue in the Parish School gymnasium at 10:50am. More information will be sent home via email/snail mail. Religious Education classes will not be in session next Sunday, January 25. The Parish School families will be participating in Catholic School’s week and the Parish School will host an Open House. Religious Education classes will resume on Sunday, February 1. Wrapped in Swaddling Clothes Every week St. Edmund parishioners donate diapers and adult undergarments that are delivered to the Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry. During the weekend of January 4 when the diapers were collected, a small blue colored card was also found in the basket. Inside the card the following was printed: “And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” Luke 2: 12 You have swaddled many babies this year with your generous contributions of diapers. You have provided adults dignity with your contributions of adult undergarments. Many of you have also donated baby wipes and pads. Thank you. JUNE 1,736 diaper s & 130 adult undergarments JULY 1,062 diapers & 98 adult undergarments AUGUST 1,265 diaper s & 348 adult undergarments SEPTEMBER 699 diaper s & 144 adult undergarments OCTOBER 1,566 diaper s & 51 adult undergarments NOVEMBER 965 diaper s & 100 adult undergarments DECEMBER 551 diaper s & 92 adult undergarments 7,844 DIAPERS & 963 ADULT UNDERGARMENTS Collected during 2014 5 Interior and Private The Importance of the We can never be challenged too strongly with regards to being committed to social justice. A key, non-negotiable, summons that comes from Jesus himself is precisely the challenge to reach out to the poor, to the excluded, to those whom society deems expandable. Therefore the huge, global issues of justice should preoccupy us. Can we be good Christians or even decent human beings without letting the daily news baptize us? The majority of the world still lives in hunger, thousands are dying of Ebola and other such illnesses, countless lives are torn apart by war and violence, and we are still, as a world, a long ways from dealing realistically with racism, sexism, abortion, and the integrity of physical creation. These are major moral issues and we may not escape into our own private world and simply ignore them. However, precisely because they are so mammoth and important, we can get the impression that the other moral issues we have to deal with, issues of private morality, are not as important. It’s all too easy to conclude that, given the mega problems in our world, it doesn’t matter much how we live in the deeper recesses of our private worlds. Our private, little moral concerns can look petty when weighed against the problems of the world as a whole. Do we really believe that God cares much whether or not we way our morning prayers, gossip about a colleague, nurse a grudge or two, or are less than fully honest in our sexual lives? Does God really care about these things? Yes, God cares because we care. Large, global issues notwithstanding, issues of personal integrity are generally what make or break our happiness, not to mention our character and our intimate relationships. In the end, they aren’t petty concerns at all. They shape the big things. Social morality is simply a reflection of private morality. What we see in the global picture is simply a magnification of the human heart. When ego, greed lust, and selfishness are not dealt with inside the private recesses of the heart, it’s naïve to think that they will be dealt with at a global level. How are we to build a just, loving world, if we cannot, first of all, tame selfishness inside us? There will be no transparence at a global level as long as we continue to think it’s okay to not be transparent in our private lives. The global simply reflects the private. The failure to recognize this is, to my mind, the elephant in the room in terms of our inability to bring justice to the earth. Social action that does not have private morality as its base is not spirituality, but simple political action, power dealing with power, important in itself, but not to be confused with real transformation. The kingdom of God doesn’t work that way. It works by conversion and real conversion is an eminently personal act. Carlos Castaneda, the Native American mystic, writes: “I come from Latin America where intellectuals are always talking about political and social revolution and where a lot of bombs are being thrown. But nothing has changed much. It takes little daring to bomb a building, but in order to stop being jealous or to come to internal silence, you have to remake yourself. This is where real reform begins. Thomas Merton makes the same point. During the 1960’s, when so many intellectuals were involved in various social struggles, Merton was tucked away in a monastery, far (it would seem) from the real battlefronts. Stung by outside criticism of his monastic seclusion, he admitted that to most outsiders it “must seem like small potatoes” to be engaged mainly in a war against one’s private demons. However, he still believed that he was fighting the real battle, that of changing hearts. When you change a heart, he says, you have helped bring about some permanent structural, moral change on this planet. Everything else is simply one power attempting to displace another. Private morality and all that comes with it - private prayer and the attempt to be honest and transparent in even the smallest and most secret of things - is the core from which all morality takes its root. Jan Walgrave, commenting on the social importance of mysticism, suggests: “You generate more energy by splitting a single atom than you can by harnessing all the forces of water and wind on earth. That is precisely what Jesus, Buddha, and Mohammed did. They split the inner atom of love. Great energy flowed out.” John of the Cross, in teaching about the vital importance of honesty in small things, says: “It makes no difference whether a bird is tied down by a heavy rope or by the slenderest of cords, it can’t fly in either case.” Private morality is not an unimportant, unaffordable luxury, a soft virtue, something that stands in the way of commitment justice. It’s the deep place where the moral atom needs to be split. Rev. Ron Rolheiser, OMI San Antonio, Texas January 11, 2015 6 Wedding Music Workshop Tuesday, January 27 All engaged couples who are planning to be married at St. Edmund Parish this year and any other interested family and friends are invited to St. Edmund Parish Music Ministry’s Wedding Music Workshop on Tuesday, January 27 at 7:30pm in the church. Music appropriate for weddings will be presented by Kathy Halfpenny, parish Director of Music and some vocalists from our parish. If you know of any brides and grooms who are getting married at St. Edmund and may not have seen this announcement, please invite them to join us. Reservations are not needed to attend. Offertory for Weekend of January 10/11 Budgeted………………………………….….$14,350.00 Weekend collection………………………….$20,261.10 Includes monthly offertory for checking account and credit card contributions. If you wish to contribute in this way, contact the Parish Office. Deficit to date……………………………….– 46,838.38 St Edmund Book & Media Discussion Group All Parish Family Movie Screening Saturday, January 31 at 7:00pm Join us Saturday, January 31, at 7:00pm in Murphy Hall to see the film Joseph of Nazareth: The Story of the Man Closest to Christ. In the first feature film ever on the story of St. Joseph, we are shown the human, noble and the deeply spiritual aspects of Joseph the carpenter, son of David, servant of God and loving husband of Mary. He is presented as a man of faith who has to grapple greatly with the profound mysteries of the divine conception, virgin birth and the Incarnation of the Son of God, and the incredible challenges of protecting and raising Jesus amidst the threats on his life from the moment of His birth and beyond. Refreshments will be provided. Discussion will immediately following the film. Coming Up: 3/5 Book: In Search Of Belief: Revised Edition by Joan Chittister, O.S.B., Liguori Publications, 2006, 232 pages (ISBN: 978-076481484-6) 3/21 Film: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe For more information, contact Diane Brown at (708) 6574262. Climate Change Video to be Shown Today, Sunday, January 18 Today, Sunday, January 18, the Green Team will show a 15 minute TedTalk video “Climate Change is Simple” by David Roberts. The video will be shown every half hour (or whenever two or more are gathered) throughout the day from 9:00am - 9:00pm in Murphy Hall. The video covers the basic threats of global warming. Comments after each showing are welcomed. Come and be informed for the sake of our children and our planet. Join us and bring a friend! Week at a Glance Sunday 9:00am - 9pm 9:30am 10:50am 1:00pm Monday 2:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm January 18 Green Team RCIA Religious Education First Communion Parents Meeting January 19 Eucharistic Adoration Brochure Committee Finance Council Tuesday 9:00am 3:00pm 7:15pm January 20 Faith Sharing Girl Scouts Human Concerns Murphy Hall Murphy Hall Murphy Hall Wednesday 7:00pm January 21 Bridge Club Murphy Hall Saturday 9:00am 9:30am 11:00am January 24 Social Justice Day Centering Prayer Knitting/Crocheting Resource Rm N. Transept Murphy Hall Sunday 9:30am 10:30am - 1pm 1:00pm January 25 RCIA Open House Baptisms Parish Office Parish School Church Murphy Hall Parish Office School Gymnasium N. Transept Sacristy Parish Office St. Edmund Bible Study News The Friday morning bible study members completed the Fall session. We studied the Old Testament Book of Daniel. We also read the theology of Pope Francis’ CHURCH OF MERCY. In the Spring, we will study the New Testament Gospel of Mark. We will also read parts of another book on the theology of mercy (MERCY by Cardinal Walter Kasper), returning our Roman Catholic church to a more open loving church. The first session will begin on Friday, February 20, the Friday after Ash Wednesday. We meet in Murphy Hall from 9am until 10:30am on consecutive Fridays unless otherwise announced. Please join us whenever you are able, even if you are traveling in the Spring. Our discussions are educational and lively! All are welcome. 7 Spiritual Week at St. Edmund Parish Eternal Rest Grant unto These, O Lord We Pray for our Sick Fr. John Paul Andree Fr. Jim Grace Sherry Bacco Janice Gregoire Harold Bonus Zeno Jacquat baby Rachel Brooks Therese Keyes Mike Cunningham Charlotte Littrell Anita Fober George Lopez Cardinal George Fr. Daniel J. Mallette Jessie Powers Sergio Quiano Catherine Reardon Linda Saathoff Paul Sassone baby Kate Schubert Ethel Thomas Upcoming Weddings of Parishioners Nicole Heimdal and John Kioussis One in Prayer with Loved Ones in the Military Ian Adams, US Navy Capt. John Paul Andree, Pilot US Air Force Sgt. Ramiro D. Banda, US Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Boatman, US Marine Corps Specialist Brown, US Army Specialist Christopher Buscher, US Army, SPC Cpt. Jason Caboot Aiden Matthew Connelly, US Army, PFC Sgt. Thomas J. Dutton, 10th Mountain Division William Edwards, US Army Reservist Private Kristopher Ellis, US Marine Corps First Sgt. Daniel S. Greider US Army Sgt. Michael Hoover, Army Reserve Afghanistan Major Roselita Labbe, US Air Force Col. Matt Mangan, US Air Force Jonathan McLean, US Marine Corps Kristen Meyer, US Navy Lance Cpl. Robert Miller, US Marine Corps Cpt. Steven Nelson Lt. Col. Edward Nevera, US Air Force Gian Franco Solari, US Air Force Brian Walsh, First Lieutenant US Army Kimyatta Wellington, US Navy Norine Skala, mother of Mar y Sue Egan Special Remembrances at Daily Eucharist Monday 8:30am January 19 † Deceased parishioners Tuesday 8:30am January 20 (Fabian, Sebastian) † George LaGesse, Sr. Wednesday January 21 (Agnes) 8:30am † Norine Skala Thursday 8:30am January 22 † Polich family (living & deceased) Friday 8:30am January 23 (Vincent, Marianne Caper) † Malana Mercurio Saturday 8:30am 5:30pm January 24 (Francis de Sales) † Thomas and Bradley Trifone † Carol Ann Maranto, † Peter, Theresa and Peter, Jr. Grandolfo Sunday 8:00am 9:30am 11:30am 6:00pm January 25 (Third Sunday in O. T.) † Paul Bowman † Thomas Ruane † Tom Halfpenny People of St. Edmund Monday: Tuesday: Readings for the Week Heb 5:1-10; Ps 110:1-4; Mk 2:18-22 Heb 6:10-20; Ps 111:1-2, 4-5, 9, 10c; Mk 2:23-28 Wednesday: Heb 7:1-3, 15-17; Ps 110:1-4; Mk 3:1-6 Thursday: Heb 7:25 — 8:6; Ps 40:7-10, 17; Mk 3:7-12, or any of a number of readings for the Day of Prayer Friday: Heb 8:6-13; Ps 85:8, 10-14; Mk 3:13-19 Saturday: Heb 9:2-3, 11-14; Ps 47:2-3, 6-9; Mk 3:20-21 Sunday: Jon 3:1-5, 10; Ps 25:4-9; 1 Cor 7:29-31; Mk 1:14-20 Liturgical Ministers for the Weekend of January 24/25 Altar Servers (Saturday) Lectors Commentator Cantors Extraordinary Ministers E. Wilson-Yu K. Masters T. Mackey T. Masters M. Gonzalez M.S. Egan, A. Frantz, D. Taylor, L.N. Vaillancourt, D. Walsh G. Dietz M. Shubitowski B. Nelson M. Fedota T. McCoy W. Bowman, D. Giannetti, K. Kalita, Y. Lawrence, P. Nichols 9:30am T. Haggar M. Thomas M. Martin G. Martin J. Martin W. Senger J. Comeaux, K. Conroy-Lovaas, D. Dubowski, A. Dwyer, M. Jackson, J. Jackson, L. Jans 11:30am G. Allori M. Ozima L. Christensen M. Smith R. Allori S. Somers J. Berggren, T. Cullinane, L. Johnson, S. Sassone, Mark Semp, Mary Semp, Melissa Semp 6:00pm M. Wheeler T. Cronin J. Cronin A. Cronin 5:30pm 8:00am Craig Putz, Christina Putz, H. Tayag
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