St. Stephen, Deacon & Martyr C a t h o l i c C h u r c h A Catholic community of faith striving to witness to the Gospel. Our Baptism and Confirmation calls us to bring Christ’s Love to our families, our work places and our community. Grateful for God’s gifts, we seek to nurture those gifts and to give back to the Lord by sharing our time, talent and material treasure. In all of our parish activities we seek to develop a personal relationship with the Lord who directs our lives and a vision that sees the world with the eyes of Christ and that leads to a commitment to justice. We seek a sense of unity in Christ that leads us to be an open and welcoming people and a sense of joy in being graced by the gifts of God’s Love. MASS SCHEDULE November 23, 2014 Lord Jesus Christ King of the Universe Monday—Saturday: 8am (English) Saturday Liturgy: 5pm (English) Sunday Liturgy: English: 7am, 8:30am, 10am, 11:30am, 6:15pm Polish: 1pm November 23, 2014 Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe WE ARE A STEWARDSHIP PARISH We at St. Stephen, are striving to be good disciples of Christ. We focus on the spirituality of stewardship, through the grateful sharing of our time, our talent and our treasure, to help us become better disciples of Christ. As good stewards, we share our gifts responsibly with charitable groups and with our church. We urge our parishioners to consider remembering St. Stephen in their wills. Please phone Fr. Jay in the church office at 708.342.2400 for more information. P AGE 2 Thank you for your continued Stewardship in support of St. Stephen. Please visit our website to find other opportunities for generosity through planned giving by remembering St. Stephen in your will or living trust. TIME, TALENT & TREASURE In addition to printing the collection, we are printing the Sunday and Holy Day collections from the previous month and for the fiscal year to date as well as budgeted amount needed for us to meet both our expenses & mortgage payments. Mortgage payments are $41,500 per month (interest and principal). The Archdiocese loaned us the money to start our parish and build our facilities on the basis of a commitment to Stewardship by the parish. We thank everyone whose support enables us to do the work of our Actual Budget parish. Last Month October $117,377 $112,500 Year-to-Date July 1—October 31 $471,966 $459,600 Collections For 11-16-2014 Regular $20,885.00 Kids $93.53 Sharing $55.00 All Souls $55.00 Christmas $50.00 Electronic $7,489.50 Parish Center $20.00 BAPTISMS are celebrated every Sunday at 3pm in English and 1pm in Polish. Please contact Deacon Ken in the parish office for the necessary preparations. SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION is available on Saturdays, from 8:45—9:30am in the church or by appointment. FUNERALS can be arranged with the parish office. MARRIAGES St. Stephen Parish welcomes the celebration of the weddings of both registered parishioners and the children of registered parishioners. Information is available from one of the priests or deacons. PASTORAL CARE OF THE SICK can be arranged for the sick, elderly and handicapped desiring Communion by calling the parish office. BULLETIN ARTICLE DEADLINE Articles are to be in the parish office noon on Friday for the following week’s bulletin. E-mail: [email protected] REGISTRATION OF NEW PARISHIONERS is held on the 2nd & 4th Sundays every month after 10am Mass. New parishioners unable to register at Sunday registration, may register at the parish office on Mondays at 2pm, Tuesdays at 11am, Wednesdays at 8:30am or Thursdays at 6:45pm. Please phone 708.342.2400 to make an appointment. We warmly welcome new parishioners and cordially invite you to join us on our life-long journey to the Lord. ~ O UR CHURCH ~ Parish Office 17500 South 84th Avenue Tinley Park, IL 60487 Office Hours: 8:30am-8:30pm Mon-Th; 8:30am-7pm Fri; 9am-5pm Sat Office Closed: 12:30-1pm Mon-Fri Office Phone: 708.342.2400 Office Fax 708.342.1545 Religious Ed. Phone: 708.342.1544 Website: www.ststephentinley.com email: [email protected] @ststephentinley ~ O UR STAFF ~ ~ O UR Rev. James Finno, Pastor Rev. Grzegorz Warmuz, Associate Pastor William Engler, Deacon Chuck McFarland, Deacon William Schultz, Deacon Joseph Stalcup, Deacon Pete Van Merkestyn, Deacon Kenneth Zawadzki, Deacon Karen Opyd, Administrative Assistant to Pastor Mary Jeanne Pazin, Director of Religious Education Leslie Krauledis, Assoc. Director of Religious EducationTammy Burns, Admin. Assistant for Religious Education Mark Gorka, Music Minister Karen Dillon, Youth Minister Dave Prete, Maintenance Director SCHOOL Cardinal Joseph Bernardin Catholic School 9300 167th Street Orland Hills, IL 60487 Phone 708.403.6525 Fax 708.403.8621 Ms. Mary Iannucilli, Principal ~ November 23, 2014 Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe P AGE 3 From Our Pastor D ear People of St. Stephen, We join with all in our Archdiocese in welcoming Archbishop Cupich as the new leader of our local church and in wishing Cardinal George well in his retirement. Please keep both of them in your prayers. Today we celebrate the feast of Christ the King. It is a relatively new feast, established in 1925 on the last Sunday of the church liturgical year (we begin a new liturgical year next Sunday as Advent begins) to emphasize the place of Christ at the center of life and to challenge the increasing denial of the place of God in life seen in communism and the secularism of that time. The Kingdom of Jesus is about a new way of relating to one another – a way that Jesus revealed by His life and teaching. Jesus demonstrated His kingdom as he blessed, loved, forgave, healed, and served the people He was speaking to. He welcomed the poor and the marginalized. He taught about His way of relating in parables that prioritized forgiveness over revenge, service over being served, and sacrificial love over self-serving arrogance. The Kingdom way of relating is expressed in this Sunday’s gospel as Jesus tells us that what we do to the least of our brothers or sisters we do to Him. Jesus’ Kingdom is present whenever we relate to one another as the God of all creation desires us to relate. It is the only Kingdom that will last forever. This feast also marks the anniversary of the dedication of our parish church by Cardinal George on the feast of Christ the King in 2002. One element of the ceremony of dedication is the anointing of the walls of the church with the chrism, the oil of Christ, marking out our church as a special place of God’s presence. The mark of the oils is still faintly visible on the walls behind the altar as a reminder of the dedication. As we prepare to celebrate our 15th anniversary as a parish at the 5pm mass next Saturday, I want to continue our series of notes on various elements in our church. The stained glass windows on the two side transepts of our church came from the former St. Laurence Church at 72nd and Dorchester in Chicago. This church was being closed in the spring of 2002 as our church was being built. Our architect and a group from our parish visited St. Laurence and discovered that the dimensions of their stained glass windows would fit well into the arches already built on the two sides of our church. We felt that the Holy Spirit must have been guiding our architect’s plan as he was designing the window openings several months before. Our side windows were made in Germany and installed at St. Laurence in 1920. The windows on the West side of the church represent four of the joyful mysteries of the rosary along with St. Dominic and St. Patrick. On the east side of the church are four of the glorious mysteries along with Jesus the Good Shepherd and Jesus Knocking on the Door of our hearts, an image from the Book of Revelation, chapter 3. Receiving the windows was a great and unexpected blessing for our church. The two statues outside the entrance to the church, one of Mary and one of Joseph holding the child Jesus, came from the former St. Leo church in Chicago. In addition, the mosaic Stations of the Cross in the garden across from the church entrance also came from St. Leo. The statue of Mary in that garden was made for our church. We have been blessed to have features in our church that came from other parishes to tie us to the past history of our Church in Chicago. This coming Thursday is Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday of the year. Thanksgiving is a secular holiday that speaks to the most basic attitude of faith – gratitude. The holiday reminds us to be grateful for all God’s gifts to us. Family gatherings remind us to be grateful for the close relationships of family that are so important to us. In my own family as we grew up, my parents insisted on all of us going to Mass on Thanksgiving morning to give thanks to God for the blessings we had in life. I did resist my father’s call to go to church on Thanksgiving in my early teen years (my resistance ended when he said calmly and firmly “in this family you go to Mass on Thanksgiving or you don’t eat”), but my father taught me a valuable lesson. Always be grateful to the Lord for God’s blessings. With stores opening more and more on Thanksgiving day, it’s getting harder for some families to observe this holiday. I encourage you to keep Thanksgiving as a family holiday as best you can, and be sure to find time to give thanks to the Lord for all the gifts of life that we have. I invite you to join us for Thanksgiving Mass at 9am this coming Thursday. Have a blessed Thanksgiving! Finally I invite everyone to join us at the 5pm Mass next Saturday and for the reception after Mass to celebrate our parish’s 15th anniversary. It will be a time to give thanks to the Lord for the blessings of these past years and to ask God’s wisdom and strength to help us to be the best followers of Jesus we can be, both individually and as a parish, in the future. May God bless you and your loved ones. Fr. Jay You are cordially invited to the celebration of the 15th Anniversary of St. Stephen, Deacon & Martyr Church on Saturday, November 29, 2014 at the 5 o’clock Mass. Wine and Cheese Reception following in the Large Meeting Room. Come celebrate this special occasion with your parish family. November 23, 2014 Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe Pastoral Ministries Contact Deacon Ken Zawadzki Pastoral Ministry Director Phone: 708.342.2400 Ext. 136 Email: [email protected] Donating to St. Vincent de Paul has become easier through our new ONLINE GIVING. Go to www.ststephentinley.com and click on the ONLINE GIVING logo to the left of the screen to register and make your donation. Thank you from our St. Vincent de Paul Society. If you or a parishioner close to you is in need, please contact SVdP at 708-342-2400 ext.205. A representative will return your call as soon as possible to arrange a confidential conversation. Confidentiality and Compassion are cornerstones of our ministry Today as we celebrate Christ the King, may we open the door of our heart so wide that we may listen to the voice of Jesus calling us to help build his kingdom here on earth. In the month of November, through your gifts, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul was able to help build the kingdom of God by assisting families, providing in food, for utility and rent bills, etc. Thank You! P AGE 4 86,400 Golden Moments … Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is mystery. Today is a gift – that is why it is called the present. I’m sure you’ve heard that expression. With Thanksgiving coming this week, here is something to be thankful for: 86,400 Golden Moments we receive from God every day. The Past: Yesterday has come and gone. It’s over. It has passed. That’s why it’s called the past. You can’t go back and get it. Some people try to live in the past but that doesn’t work out too well. You can never recreate the good old days.” Once they’re gone, they’re gone forever. You can’t go backwards into the future. Besides, “the good old days” weren’t nearly as good as you think. Selective memory makes things seem better than they really were. Dad used to say that many folks are like an English lesson – they make the past perfect and the present tense! Now it’s fine to visit the past from time to time. In fact, we all need to go there occasionally. A thoughtful look backwards helps us process today’s experiences. Recalling positive times brings satisfaction. That’s good. Reflecting on painful situations brings wisdom. That’s good too. Overall, though, the past is like a dump site – an interesting place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there. The Future: the worries and fears of tomorrow can rob us of today’s joy. Anxiety is like a treadmill. It keeps you busy for a long time, going nowhere. There’s nothing wrong with looking forward in anticipation. It’s fine to make careful plans concerning your future steps; however, most of our fretting is just wasted energy. Have you noticed that most of the things we worry about never happen anyway? Today: today is the only day you have. There are 86,400 seconds in each day – 86,400 golden moments. That’s a treasure trove! What are you going to do with it? I encourage you to spend the treasure wisely. Pack your day full! Pack it full of joy. Pack it full of love. Pack it full of wonderful experiences. When it’s gone, you’ll never get it back, so lighten up, look up and make it count for something! Blessings, Deacon Ken Zawadzki SENIORS YOUNG @ HEART Our next meeting is Monday, November 24 at 10am and it is our Game Day. Don't forget your cards, dice and games, and refreshments are to be provided by the Board. Four Winds Casino St. Stephen Seniors, “Young @ Heart” will sponsor a trip to Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo Michigan on Thursday, February 12, 2015. All parishioners are welcome to join us. Cost is $35 per person which includes bus transportation, $15 in slot credit and $10 food credit. Bus will depart from St. Stephens’s parking lot at 9am and return at 4pm. Tickets will go on sale at the Young @ Heart meeting on November 24 so bring your checks or cash. You may also purchase tickets by contacting Joan Kapala at 815-534-5111. November 23, 2014 Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe P AGE 5 The Parish Transformation Team is concluding their work in the three areas of Mission, Finance, and Education. The group is putting the finishing touches on the new Mission Narrative which will supplement our current Mission Statement and expand on the “spirit” of who we are here at St. Stephen. Please continue to pray for your Parish Transformation Team. A special thank-you to the nearly 50 people who have worked so diligently over the past three months to make this process a true success. Book Discussion “Everybody Needs to Forgive Somebody” The final session of the book discussion “Everybody Needs to Forgive Somebody”, will be next Sunday, November 30. Like our book discussion on “Rediscover Catholicism” last winter and spring, we will begin with a light supper at 4:30pm and conclude about 5:50pm in time for the 6:15pm Mass. Save the Date… Thy Kingdom Come… March 21 & 22, 2015… St. Stephen’s Church Thy Will Be Done on Earth… only if YOU are there! Kingdom is a two-day spiritual renewal that is open to anyone 18 years of age or older (no overnight). (Single, married, divorced, separated or widowed). Come alone or bring a friend and discover GOD working in your everyday life. More information and registration forms will be in the bulletin starting in January. It is a weekend of Faith, Friendship, Fun and Food! Please mark your calendars for Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22, 2015. “…The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 3:2 Infant Jesus of Prague healing service and mass Everyone is invited to attend the Infant of Jesus of Prague prayer group healing service and mass on Monday, December 1, 2014 at 7:30pm. We are wheelchair accessible. We are located at Flossmoor Road and Leavitt Avenue in Flossmoor. For more information, call Bettyann Hall at 708-799-1234. Our Lady of Fatima PILGRIM Statue Please come join us for the Rosary on Saturday, November 29 at 8 pm; on Sunday, November 30 through Saturday, December 6 at 7:30 pm in the Daily Chapel. The traveling statue of Our Lady of Fatima will be with us. This is a wonderful family way to begin Advent. Military Corner Please pray for our Military men and women on a daily basis for their safe return. Capt. Anthony J. Cesaro Major Vincent Cesaro 1st Lt. Michael Chimienti Lt. Amanda Griffith Lcpl. Evan Grober Capt. Michael Gryczka Sgt. Joseph Malone Capt. Christopher Mazurek Sgt. Dominic Messina Tsgt. Laura Langley Ssgt. Carl Langley PFC Matthew O'Boyle Capt. Thomas Pierczynski Tsgt. Stephen Vlaming LCDR Marilyn Walsh Major Thomas Walsh November 23, 2014 Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe P AGE 6 OFFICE HOLIDAY HOURS...To observe the Thanksgiving holiday, the parish office will close at 2pm this coming Wednesday (11-26) and will be closed this Thursday (11-27) and Friday (11-28). The office will reopen on Saturday (11-29) at 9am. The Staff of St. Stephen wishes all of you a Blessed Thanksgiving. Thank you for all you do for our parish! No Adoration and Benediction Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, there will be no Adoration and Benediction this Thursday (11-27). Daily Chapel Closed this Week Due to painting and plastering work being done in the Daily Chapel to repair damage done by a small roof leak, the Daily Chapel will be closed this week. The Chapel will open next Saturday (11-29). Thanksgiving day mass food blessing In keeping with our theme of Stewardship at St. Stephen, we invite everyone to participate in our annual Thanksgiving food blessing. It is appropriate to ask the Lord to bless our Thanksgiving dinner, for all our gifts are from the Lord. Items will be blessed after the 9am Mass. Please bring items such as bread, rolls, wine and any other non-perishable food items. Family Prayer Service Around the Thanksgiving Table Leader: We come to our table to welcome this feast of Thanksgiving with joy and with gladness. We have prepared this feast with good food and drink. We have gathered together and come around this table to feast and to celebrate the many things for which we are grateful. The Lord is our light and or salvation. May this light burn brightly in our hearts and around this table, both at this Thanksgiving and at all of our family meals. Grandparent or older child lights a candle. Leader: We give thanks today for all of the many gifts that we have received. Each person states one thing they are thankful for. Leader: Let us also remember those members of this family and those loved ones who are not present at our table. A silent pause, or the names of individuals are said aloud. Each person reads a verse of the following until the prayer is completed. Blessing: Lord of all blessings. From you has come a full harvest of gifts to us. With our uplifted hearts, we come today around this table to give thanks to you. We are grateful not only for the gift of our very lives but all the gifts of friendship, love, devotion, and forgiveness that we have shared. On this thanksgiving and this day of giving thanks, we thank you for showing us how to return thanks by lives of service, by actions of hospitality, by kindness to others, and by concern for each other. If guests are present: We thank you for the presence of (names of guests) who, by their being present in our home, have added to this feast of joy and celebration. We are most grateful, today, for the way you our unseen God, have become visible to us in one another, both for our families and our friends, in countless daily gifts, and in the marvels of creation itself. Come Lord of gifts, bless our table and all the food of this feast. Let us thank the Lord today and all days. Used with permission from Jubilee Day for Families – Catholic Bishops Family Ministries Office, Archdiocese of Chicago May the hand of God always protect you and those you love. November 23, 2014 Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe P AGE 7 Dear Families of St. Stephen, As we are about to begin the Advent season, it is time for us at St. Stephen to begin to prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Your children, grades 1 and up, are invited to be a part of the Christmas Eve Nativity Liturgy. This year St. Stephen will be celebrating a 5pm Mass on Christmas Eve, at which the children will be presenting the Christmas Gospel. We hope to involve many of our children in this experience. All parts are non-speaking. A few special parts, grades 3 and up, will be selected by lottery. While we have a few costumes, families will need to provide most costumes which are all very basic. Please consider the schedule of rehearsals below. All rehearsals are mandatory. Rehearsals will be in church on the following dates: Rehearsals for Christmas Eve Mass at 5 PM: Thursday, December 11—6:30-7:00 PM (assignment of parts) - 125/126 Thursday, December 18—6:30-7:00 PM- Church Monday, December 22—6:30-7:00 PM (dress rehearsal) - Church At the dress rehearsal on December 22 costumes must be worn. If your child(ren) are interested in participating in this special Mass, please come to the first practice for the Mass on December 11 at 6:30 PM. Adult helpers are needed and welcome. If you have any questions, please call Fr. Jay at 708-342-2400 or Mary Jeanne Pazin at 708-342-1544, ext. 147. Thank you and God bless, Fr. Jay and The Family Mass Team ADVENT PRAYERS As part of our Advent observance we invite everyone to write a prayer expression, personal intention or gratitude for blessings on the sheets that are available on the table in the narthex. Please write your prayer and family name on the sheet and place the sheet in the basket marked Advent prayers. These intentions will then be placed in a basket placed by the altar. By bringing our prayers to Our Lord, we show our willingness to let “The Lord, shape us to transform our hearts and our community” during Advent. Advent Candle Lighting Sign-up Sheet There is a sign-up sheet on the ushers table for those wishing to light the Advent Candles at the beginning of Mass. Please check in with the usher no later than 10 minutes before Mass starts. This way they know that you are here; otherwise, they will look for someone to take your place. Please remember to honor your commitment. “The Little Blue Book” - An Advent Prayer Book Advent begins on Sunday, November 30TH which is just around the corner. By the way, “Happy New Year”, the first Sunday of Advent begins a new year for the Church based on the Church’s calendar. Advent is a time of preparation for and reflection upon the birth of Jesus. To aid in the prayerful preparation for Advent “The Little Blue Book” written by Bishop Untener of Saginaw Michigan offers a brief prayer for each day of Advent. “The Little Blue Book” is available in the magazine racks on the west wall of the narthex. Please take one and use it for daily prayer during Advent. A donation of $1 is requested to pay for “The Little Blue Book”. Walk to Bethlehem Relive that special night with a walk through the halls of the motherhouse at St. Francis Woods, 9201 W St. Francis Rd, Frankfort on Saturday, December 6 at 6:30pm. The cost is $20 per person and dinner will be served in the auditorium. Come hear the choirs from St. Jude & St. Christopher. For further information, please call Gerry at 815-464-3682. November 23, 2014 Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe P AGE 8 Women’s Club to Host Annual Shopping Night Providence Catholic High School Women’s Club will host its annual Shopping Night on Thursday, November 20 from 5 PM to 9 PM in the school’s cafeteria (please enter through door #14). Guests will have the opportunity to get a jump start on their holiday shopping and peruse unique and amazing gifts from numerous upscale vendors. Raffles for great gifts along with complimentary appetizers and refreshments will also be available to guests. For more information, please contact Patti Senese at (630) 863 -5811 or [email protected]. Providence Catholic is located at 1800 W. Lincoln Highway in New Lenox, IL. Congratulations to our Honor roll students Antonio Alejo Rachel Alles Isabella Altobelli Michael Altobelli Lauren Bird Connor Bowles Emily Bowles Mark Cachey Emma Coughlin Cara Cox Charles Dunne Jack Dunne Carrie Fuesel Brittany Hallberg Molly Hallberg Caleigh Jaskierski Amy Jensen Brian Jensen Michael Jerik Sarah Kaley Jacqueline Kelly Lea Kulpinski Megan Kulpinski Clare Lima Connor Lima Justin Lumanga Karly Marth Amanda Martinez‐Babiuk Caroline Murphy Theresa Murphy Brendan Nieukirk Nicholas Noonan John OConnor Kaitlyn Peil Taylor Pfeiffer Hailey Radakovitz Gino Sanfilippo Patrick Sullivan Keely Tess Carina Tolan Emma Urchell Bandcake Breakfast at Brother Rice The Brother Rice/Mother McAuley Band's BANDCAKE Breakfast Fundraiser will take place on Sunday, December 7, from 8:00 A.M. until noon at Brother Rice High School, 10001 S. Pulaski Road, Chicago. Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for seniors and children ages 5 to 12; children 4 and younger eat for FREE. Tickets are available at the door. Santa will be stopping in for breakfast and pictures, too! Join us at Moms and Tots! Moms and Tots is a casual playgroup that meets on Tuesdays between 9:30am and 11:00am. We meet in the church, Room 158, however, if fall weather permits we may move to Kiwanis Park. It is located near the southwest side of the church parking lot. We hope to see you there! If you have any questions feel free to contact Julie at [email protected] or (708)299-9404. Moms and Tots NEW PARISHIONERS We would like to welcome the following to our St. Stephen Family Braband,Michael(Kathleen),M/M Campo,Donna,Mrs. Cassata,Pete(Sara),M/M Crawford,Tiffany,Ms. Cruikshank,Matthew(Tracy),M/M Curtin,Michael(Caroline),M/M Dzienisik,Roman(Anna),M/M Fenton,Matt(Rachel),M/M Ficaro,Jeff(Amy),M/M Gregerson,Nick(Cassandra),M/M Hajek,Joseph(Lori),M/M Hennigan,Ryan(Kathryn),M/M Jones,Dennis(Natalie),M/M Knapp,Rudy(Sarah),M/M Kruk,Arkadiusz(Malgorzata),M/M Lense,Todd(Kathryn),M/M Maines,Jack(Coleen),M/M Mattix,Blake(Julie),M/M Mendoza,Edgar(Anna),M/M Mikols,Paul(Kristen),Mr. & Mrs. Nichols,Brian(Megan),M/M O'Connor,Patricia,Mrs. Ostrowski,Joseph(Dawn),M/M Poland,George(Amanda),Mr. & Mrs. Reidy,Brian(Elizabeth),M/M Roiniotis,Bill(Kerri),M/M Romano,Francesca,Ms. Russell,Nicholas(Erin),M/M Ryan,Dan(Bridget),M/M Szymanski,Raymond(Deann),M/M Veit,Jeff(Vania),M/M Wogonblott,Mike(Morandi,Heather,Ms.),Mr. Zugaj,Tony(Jill),M/M November 23, 2014 Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe P AGE 9 Teens Growing in Faith Upcoming Events If you are interested in more information about the Youth Ministry, please contact Dillon at: 708-342-2400, ext. 149 or at [email protected]. T.G.I.F. Karen Teens 7th grade through high school are invited to teen activities the 2nd and 4th Sundays of every month following the 6:15 pm mass from 7-9 pm! Come help us plan our activities for the year! Sunday, November 23rd: Movie Night 7:00-9:00pm in Rooms 158-159- We will watch the acclaimed movie “God’s Not Dead” with popcorn & snacks with discussion to follow. Wednesday, December 10th: Service Project at Catholic Charities Meal Program-St. Blasé Church. Meet in the Narthex at 4:30pm. We will drive together and return to church by 7:30pm. YOU MUST CALL TO RESERVE A SPOT AS SPACE IS LIMITED! A PERMISSION SLIP IS REQUIRED. Counts as 3 hours of service. Saturday, December 13th: Mom & Dad’s Night Out 6-9pm in Large meeting room. We play games, watch a movie, do crafts, have a snack with younger kids (BABYSITTING). Lots of FUN and counts as 3 hours community service. St. Stephen Teens Food Pantry Scavenger Hunt Kudos to our 11 teens and 3 Adult volunteers who combed local subdivisions seeking donations for the food pantry as a service project. Together they collected just over 40 full bags of groceries in 2 hours. Afterwards they celebrated their accomplishment with pizza and some games. 7th Grade Service Opportunity: Babysitting At 10am Mass Confirmation Candidates: Get an early start on your service hours for next year! We are presently scheduling babysitting for 2015, and you can begin doing your projects in February. Sign up now for your first choice in dates; 3 Sundays are needed to count for 1 project. 7th/8th/HS Students, please contact Babysitting Coordinator Pat Mullin at [email protected] to sign up. Babysitting for children ages 15 months to 5 years is provided at 10am Mass. Parents, please come to room #158 ten minutes before mass to sign in; directly following mass please return to sign out your child. For the safety of all, if your child is ill please do not bring them to the babysitting room and food is not permitted at any time. MERCY HOME FOR BOYS AND GIRLS ANNUAL CHRISTMAS COLLECTION Once again the St. Stephen Teen Group is sponsoring a collection of stocking stuffers and small gifts for the teens who live at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls. There will be collection boxes in the Narthex the weekends of Nov. 29 & 30 and Dec. 6 & 7. Everything will be picked up by Mercy Home on Monday, December 8th. Items they have specifically requested this year are listed below: The gifts are best left unwrapped. Wrapping paper or medium to large gift bags are also welcome. Please submit your unwrapped gift by Sunday, December 7th. Thank you! Small games like Uno, Jenga, Skip-Bo, Water bottles Head Phones/Ear Buds Planners, Journals Wallets Umbrellas Magazine subscriptions to Mercy Home Time Kid’s Sports Illustrated ESPN Magazine Game Pro MP3s Small cologne and perfume Body Lotions $15 Walmart gift cards $15 Best Buy gift cards Disposable cameras Slippers all sizes Scrapbook supplies Baseball Caps Twin Size sheet sets. Movie DVD’s Muppets Most Wanted Godzilla 2014 National Geographic’s $15 Target Gift Cards Frozen The Lego Movie How to Train Your Dragon 2 Maleficent Facing the Giants The Amazing Spiderman 2 Captain America Winter Soldier Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2014 Socks- athletic for boys and more colorful/playful for girls Video Games for:Xbox 360 or Wii rated E or sports game November 23, 2014 Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe P AGE 10 Welcome to the Marriage Center Marriages: Michael & Lauren Benavides, Brian and Lauren Downing, Michael & Stephanie Day Banns I Nick Billone & Michelle Musial Gluten Free Hosts Available The Benedictine Sisters, who have been providing our altar breads since we began as a parish, have developed a communion host that will benefit all those who suffer from celiac disease. Celiac disease is a digestive disorder triggered by gluten, a protein found in wheat and other grains. Since Church law and tradition require that the Eucharistic bread be wheat based, some Catholics have been unable to receive the host because they cannot tolerate the gluten in altar breads. Some Catholics can receive only the cup because the gluten in the host is a danger to their health. The Benedictine Sisters have developed a low gluten host that is safe for most people with celiac disease and which meets all Church requirements and is approved for use at Mass. The gluten content of these breads is 0.01%, a level which the Center for Celiac Research at the University of Maryland calls perfectly safe for the vast majority of celiac sufferers. The Sisters still recommend that individual celiac sufferers consult with their doctor before using the breads. These hosts have now been improved to the point that we can keep a small supply of consecrated hosts in the tabernacle for anyone who needs them. If you have this need, please mention it to the priest, deacon, or one of the ushers before Mass. However, if for some reason you do not see someone before Mass, just mention to whoever is distributing communion that you need a gluten-free host. We will always have a small supply available. 2015 Golden Book We are again offering the New 2015 Golden Opportunities coupon book for only $25. It has hundreds of discounts at numerous local merchants that you shop at everyday. The Dining Pleasures and Casual Dining section offer 2 for 1 dining, with many of them having offers Valid Once A Month for the entire year. Please stop by the Parish Office to view a sample or to purchase this great gift that you can begin to use immediately. WE ONLY HAVE A FEW LEFT! Journey oF Joy Faith Christian Reformed Church at 171st and 84th Ave. will be presenting for the 12th year their live nativity, Journey of Joy. An eight scene re-enactment (with live animals) of the Christmas Story will be presented on Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7. Guided 40 minute tours begin every 10 minutes from 1 to 6 pm. Admission is free and the event is wheelchair accessible. If you have any questions, please call 708-532-8300. CJB Seventh Grade The seventh grade Cardinal Bernardin academic bowl team took first place at the Providence Catholic Academic bowl during the weekend of October 18th. The team demonstrated a strong knowledge base in the following subject areas including literature, math, social studies, geography, and science. From left: Katy Juds, Tori Quinlan, Amanda Flowers, Diya Dileep, Christopher Cokinos, Michael Nacik, Jonathan Laxamana, Anthony Rihani and Girvinn Fernandez. Happy Thanksgiving from Your Parish School On behalf of the Cardinal Joseph Bernardin Catholic School, please know that we appreciate and are grateful for the prayers, friendship, and support of the parishioners of our sponsoring parishes -- St. Elizabeth Seton, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Julie Billiart, St. Stephen Deacon & Martyr. In particular, during this season of THANKSGIVING, we especially give thanks for your support of Catholic education. We wish you blessings as you celebrate with family and friends on this special holiday. Mary Iannucilli, Principal CARDINAL BERNARDIN SCHOOL – CUSTODIAN POSITION AVAILABLE CJB is looking for a part-time custodian who will assist with general cleaning within the school during the evening shift (Monday through Friday). The candidate must be adaptable and flexible and able to respond to situations and problems as they arise. The ability to handle basic tools for light maintenance and repairs is necessary. The work week is a maximum of 20 hours. Please email resume to [email protected] or to [email protected] November 23, 2014 Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe P AGE 11 Informacje Dotyczące Duszpasterstwa w Parafii Sw. Śzczepana W ciago calego roku Msza Św. w niedziele w języku polskim jest o godz. 1PM -Pierwszy piątek miesiąca: Spowiedz of 7-8pm Msza o 8pm -Pierwsza sobota miesiąca: od godz. 7pm-9:30pm -W kazdy czwartek jest calodzienna adoracja Najswietszego Sakramentu -Spowiedz w kazdą sobote of godz. 8:45-9:30am -Chrzty w języku polskim odbywaja sie w kazdą niedziele miesiąca -Nauki przedmalzenskie w języku polskim odbywaja sie za umuwieniem -Ślub w języku polskim prosimy zglaszać sześć mięsicy wcześniej -Po bliższe imformajce proszę dzwonić do biura parafialnego pod numer 1(708) 342- 2400 wew 137 On naszym Królem, On nasz Pan! Nazywany od dawien dawna Królem z powodu dostojeństwa, przez które wyprzedza wszystkie stworzenia i przewyższa je, jest ich pierwowzorem. Gdyby dzisiaj kroczył tak, jak 2000 lat temu, może tylko więcej byłby znany, ze względu na media. A Jego słowa, gesty i czyny z taką samą wyrazistością docierałyby do wszystkich, którym dane by było odczytać Jego wezwanie. Na pewno wskazywałby nam, jaką drogą powinniśmy kroczyć. Chrystus króluje w umysłach ludzkich nie z powodu głębi umysłu i rozległości Swej wiedzy, lecz dlatego, iż On Sam jest Prawdą, a ludzie od Niego powinni Prawdę czerpać i posłusznie ją przyjmować. Czy jednak wszyscy widzimy w Nim Pana, który w obietnicy naszego Zbawienia ogarnia nas swoją miłością? Czy też patrzymy historycznie, czując żal i smutek, ale nie widzimy w Nim Króla, Boga, Najwyższego Sprawcy, samego Dobra, lecz ikonę, obraz? W czytaniach na dzisiejszą uroczystość, Bóg, poprzez proroka, mówi nam, jakim jest Pasterzem, Opiekunem wszystkich, nawet tych, którzy zbłądzili. „Albowiem tak mówi Pan Bóg: Oto Ja sam będę szukał moich owiec i będę miał o nie pieczę. Jak pasterz dokonuje przeglądu swojej trzody, wtedy gdy znajdzie się wśród rozproszonych owiec, tak Ja dokonam przeglądu moich owiec i uwolnię je ze wszystkich miejsc, dokąd się rozproszyły w dni ciemne i mroczne.” (Ez 34,11-12). Niezależnie jak Go nazwiemy, Pasterzem, Królem, Ojcem, zawsze będzie Bogiem darzącym nas miłością, opieką i czułością, nawet wtedy, gdy zdarzy się nam zbłądzić, zgrzeszyć, zasmucić Go lub obrazić swoimi czynami, słowami, myślami. Największym darem dla nas jest Syn Boży, Jezus Chrystus, który „zmartwychwstał jako pierwszy spośród tych, co pomarli. Ponieważ bowiem przez człowieka [przyszła] śmierć, przez człowieka też [dokona się] zmartwychwstanie. I jak w Adamie wszyscy umierają, tak też w Chrystusie wszyscy będą ożywieni.” (1 Kor 15,20-22). To On, którego dzisiaj czcimy jako Króla Wszechświata, prowadzi nas ku wieczności, w której w Jego Chwale będziemy mogli cieszyć swoje oczy widokiem Boga. Jednakże, aby doczekać spełnienia tych obietnic, musimy już tu, na ziemi, nie tylko pamiętać, że najważniejsze jest przykazanie miłości, lecz przede wszystkim wprowadzać je w czyn. Nakarmić i napoić głodnych i spragnionych. Nie tylko podzielić się strawą, ale – jeśli trzeba – udzielić gościny zmęczonemu przybyszowi. A odwiedzanie chorych, osadzonych w więzieniu? A modlitwa za zmarłych? Jednakże nie chodzi tu o pojedyncze sytuacje, na zasadzie: byłem, wykonałem, czyli zaliczyłem. Na drogę do wieczności i świętości nie ma biletu czy karnetu, z którego odcina się kupony za dobre uczynki czy czyny miłosierne. Dobroć i dobre uczynki to pozytywne wirusy – jeśli się nimi zarazimy, to będą nas nieustannie kierować ku Dobru, ku Chrystusowi. Jako memento dla naszego dalszego życia przyjmijmy słowa Jezusa Chrystusa: "Zaprawdę, powiadam wam: Wszystko, co uczyniliście jednemu z tych braci moich najmniejszych, Mnieście uczynili". (Mt 25,40) Jezu Chryste, pozwól nam tak zrozumieć każde Twoje słowo, każdą przypowieść, każdą Twoją naukę, by to nas stale przybliżało do Ciebie i pomagało z ufnością oczekiwać Twego powtórnego przyjścia na ziemię. Przez Chrystusa, z Chrystusem i w Chrystusie. COUNSELOR AVAILABLE Michele L. Nowak, LCPC, is available to provide counseling to individuals and couples right here at St. Stephen parish! Michele is an experienced professional counselor who has worked with all age groups and issues. She is a staff member of The Hollbrook Counseling Center of Catholic Charities. Blue Cross / Blue Shield accepted. Those without insurance are eligible for sliding scale fees based on income & number of dependents. Appointments can be made by calling (312) 655-7725. The first session is free for all who are members of St. Stephen. November 23, 2014 Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe Sun 11-23 P AGE 12 Baby Nursing #153 | 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Babysitting #158 10:00 AM Children's Liturgy of the Word #154,#155,#156 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM Parish Registration LMR 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM RCIA #125 | 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Baptism Mon 11-24 Daily Chapel Closed | No RE |10:00 AM Young @ Heart LMR & #161 Tues 11-25 Daily Chapel Closed | No RE 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM Moms & Tots #158 | 1:00 PM Pastoral Staff #126 Wed 11-26 7:30 PM Highlanders #171,172,173,174 | 7:30 PM Rosary Church Daily Chapel Closed | No RE | Parish and RE Offices Closed at 2pm 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Adult Choir Church/Choir Room | 7:30 PM - 8:45 PM Portrait of Jesus book study #126 Thurs 11-27 Daily Chapel Closed | Parish & RE Offices Closed |9:00 AM Thanksgiving Mass Fri 11-28 Daily Chapel Closed | Parish & RE Offices Closed Education Wing Closed for Anniversary Setup Sat 11-29 Baby Nursing #153 | 9:00 AM - 10:15 AM Portrait of Jesus book study Daily Chapel 5:00 PM 15th Parish Anniversary Mass | 6:00 PM 15th Parish Anniversary Reception Education Wing 8:00 PM Our Lady of Fatima Daily Chapel Sun 11-30 Advent | Baby Nursing #153 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Babysitting #158 | 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Baptism 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM Book Discussion "Forgiveness" LMR | 7:30 PM Our Lady of Fatima Daily Chapel 11-30 Lector 5:00 PM Hilbert,Mary Beth Burke,Bill Eucharistic Magdziasz,Marilyn Magdziasz,Tom Bulvan,Christine Czerwinski,Joanne Czerwinski,John Vagena,Elaine Baste,Chona Grady,Jim Grady,Roberta Clausen,Samantha Mangan,Melissa Witry,Bernard Altar Laird,Jessica Laird,David Kane,Caitlin Celebrant Fr Jay Deacons Dcn Ken Greeters Dave Newquist Shirley Newquist Tracy Kielak Pete Kielak 7:00 AM Kenny,Tom Flanagan,Jane Dressel,Judy Dressel,Allan Lucas,June Rice,Edward Rice,Connie Erzinger,Ruth Connolly,Marie Connolly,Bill Fr Jay Dcn Pete 8:30 AM Melrose,Scott Harty,Lynette Heniff,Pat Heniff,Jack Farley,Kay Farley,Bill Crane,Sally Albee,Dawn Koney,Patricia Hildebrandt,Walter Juvida,Gregorio Brouch,John Janssens,Virginia Werr,Mary Griffith,Maddie Barth,Charlie Hallberg,Molly Fr Greg Dcn Bill S. Tom Mitus Lynn Packert Mary Ellen Kut Michael Kut 10:00 AM Franckowiak,Pam Beaudin,Greg Fehrenbacher,Michael McCauley,Kara Richerme,Dolores Daly,Lynn Steele,Tammy Lima,Clare Lindenmeyer,Elaine Vaitkus,Charlotte Piatchek,Kay Piatchek,Rich Mikula,Beth Kulpinski,Glenn Pursel,Mia Pursel,Ava Hamoay,Pamela Fr Jay Dcn Chuck Pauline Cotrano Linda Giroux Dorothy Meyrick Bob Meyrick 11:30 AM Flaherty,Shannon Waller,Maureen Novotny,Deborah Voltolina,Jeanette Robison,Anne Brady,Bette Brady,William Brennan,Mike Bialas,Mary Sullivan,Janet Rutkowski,Kathy Kolloway,Mike Smajo,Nicholas Smajo,Geri Quinn,Jack Tesher,Sarah Tesher,Kevin Fr Tim Guthridge Dcn Joe Joan Beck Natalie Sims Rose Romano Carol DeJoris 1PM Sierakowski,Maria Luczak,Longin Boblak,Andrej Kwiatkowski,S. Kita,Barbara Counters Sun 11-23 Team #1 Sun 11-30 Team #2 November 23, 2014 Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe 11/23 Sunday 7:00am For the People Geoffrey Evert req.by The Family 8:30am Joe Stalcup, Jr. req.by Linda & Joe Stalcup Ted Gildea req.by The Gildea Family 10:00am Anna Krzyminski req.by Pauline Cotrano Matt Kocher req.by The Catania Family 11:30am Sophie Surdej & Joe Wasowicz req.by The Family Katherine Kiec req.by Dore 1:00pm Za Dusze W. Czyscu Cierpiace Cislak & Juraszek Family 6:15pm Justine Price req.by Don Price Sophie Emerson req.by Helen Michalik 11/24 Monday 8:00am Joe & Jean Salomon req.by Grandchildren Roy Daley req.by Bern Daley & Family 11/25 Tuesday req.by The Klimek Family 8:00am Stefania Klimek Jim Dwyer req.by Donna Kuban 11/26 Wednesday req.by M/M R. Mensik 8:00am Louis & Jeanette Spoto Steve Yanko req.by The Yanko Family 11/27 Thursday - Thanksgiving 9:00am Ed Walsh req.by Maeve Walsh Margaret Devine req.by Rosalie McGlynn Maxima & Benedicto Deanching req.by The Family Int. of 2nd Birthday of Grace Gowen req.by Papa & Grandma 11/28 Friday 8:00am Simone Baranger req.by The Bryar Family Adaline Paternostro req.by Leslie Valcik & Family Lorraine Sena req.by Terry & Suzanne Ryan Thanksgiving for the Sebastian Family 11/29 Saturday 8:00am Elizabeth & Joseph Persin req.by Barb Black Donna Depeder req.by Sr. Altar Servers 5:00pm Michael Prokop req.by His Mom Robert Przybylski req.by M/M A. Jaburek Linda Stromek req.by Ray Stromek & Family Ed Bedno req.by Berni Dement Jeff Christian req.by Kris & Karen Opyd 11/30 Sunday 7:00am For the People req.by The Family Anne Lisicich 8:30am Hugh Twomey req.by Celia Twomey Ralph Provenzano req.by Gerald & Mary Jeanne Pazin 10:00am Joseph Salomon req.by Wife & Sons & Family Ronald Joyce 11:30am Marie Pliley Dan Hattan 1:00pm Za Dusze W. Czyscu Cierpiace Jozef Kowalczyk 6:15pm Maxine Bean Margaret Page req.by req.by req.by Jean @ Vista Hotel Maureen & Ed Kwiatkowski Emily Johnson req.by req.by req.by The Family Sr. Altar Servers Dcn Pete & Jan Van Merkestyn P AGE 13 Pray for Our Sick Mike Abramowicz Albert Agresti Kristen Baldyga Julie Barth Josephine Basie Arlene Beavan Augustina Braccolino Frank Braccolino Kathie Brosius Tammy Burns William Callahan Raymond Callahan John Czerniak Janice Dorff Joe Dorff John Drahos Cardinal George Sue Gildea Caroline Grady Fran Grousnick Marion Kummer Lillian Kurzawski Ed Malone Jim O'Donnell Nathan Parry Carmen Pignatiello Judy Ratkovic Kevin Renderman Betty Ruzich Terry Ryan Mary Lou Schoettler Nicole Siedschlag Rachel Swallow Joseph Tierney Ruth Ann Tomaszeski Alex Udaykee Jane Van Duch MaryBeth Vasquez Maeve Walsh Kelly Weiss And for all for whom our parish is asked to pray To help keep the list of names read at Mass and placed in the bulletin accurate and current, we will keep the name of a non-parishioner who is an immediate family member of our parishioner on the list at Mass for two weeks and in the bulletin for two weeks. For a parishioner, we will keep the name on the list at Mass for four weeks and in the bulletin for 60 days. We ask that an immediate family member call after 4 weeks if you wish to have the name continued to be read at Mass. Pray for Our Deceased John Calich Sr. Dr. Michael Koller Ed Walz Weekly Readings Sun Mon Tues Wed Thur Fri Sat Ez 34:11-12, 15-17/1 Cor 15:20-26, 28 Rv 14:1-3, 4b-5/Lk 21:1-4 Rv 14:14-19/Lk 21:5-11 Rv 15:1-4/Lk 21:12-19 Rv 18:1-2, 21-23; 19:1-3, 9a/Lk 21:20-28 Rv 20:1-4, 11—21:2/Lk 21:29-33 Rv 22:1-7/Lk 21:34-36 Welcome to Our Newly Baptized Mila Ann Bowie Liam Patrick Drouillard Connor John Gregerson Emma M. Mendoza Avery Madeline Young Carson Bruce Young November 23, 2014 Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe P AGE 14 AN OFFER FROM NANCY’S PIZZA Nancy’s Pizza at 171st Street and 80th Avenue (in the Family Dollar Plaza) is making an offer to St. Stephen Parishioners. On any Monday through Wednesday, present this coupon and 20% of the pre-tax amount (10% if a discount coupon is used) will be donated to the St. Stephen Parish Center Fund. You can enjoy a pizza and support our parish. Nancy’s Pizza’s number is 708-614-6100. Nancy’s Pizza and St. Stephen Pizza Coupon 20% of the pre-tax amount (10% if a discount coupon is used) to be donated to the St. Stephen Parish Center Fund on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays! Phone:_______________________________________ E a r n $$$$ f or S t. S te p h e n ’s Pa r i s h! !! Have lunch or dinner at Gatto's on the 2nd or 4th Wednesday of the month and help in raising funds for St. Stephen’s parish. The parish will receive 15% of the before tax cost of your meal. Please present this coupon to your server or ask your server to write St. Stephen's Men's Club on your bill. This applies to Dine-in or Carryout!! Gatto’s Restaurant & Bar S t .2ndS& t4theWednesdays p h e n ’ofstheM en’s month Present this coupon to your server Dine-In or Carryout 15% Donation (before Pop Tabs collection to benefit the Ronald McDonald Houses of Chicago . A collection bin for pop tabs is located in the nw corner of the narthex and in all RE classrooms. Thank you for your support! Please Recycle Your Newspapers, Magazines, etc. into our green and yellow recycling bins located in the Parking Lot. Youth Ministry of St. Stephen will earn money from your donation. Thank you to all who advertise in our bulletin. Please patronize our advertisers!
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