FROM THE DESK OF THE PASTOR JESUS. take a pass. The truth is, according to our Catholic Faith, that Jesus is constantly coming among us, especially

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2 Page Two October 2, 2005 FROM THE DESK OF THE PASTOR HOW WOULD WE RECEIVE JESUS IF HE CAME TO US TODAY? Jesus came into the world after a long line of Old Testament prophets and sages had been generally rejected or ignored by the people of their own time. They were pretty much treated like the servants in this parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned. Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. What goes here? Well, surely they would respect the landowner s son. Right? Wrong. Those tenants were a really nasty bunch. When the tenants saw the son, they said to one another: This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance. They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. Of course those villains would meet a violent end when the landowner sent in his own mercenary army. It doesn t take too much imagination on our part to figure out that the landowner was God the Father and that His Son was Jesus the Christ. What about today? How would we receive Jesus if He came to us today? Would the reception be a lot better here today in the United States than it was twenty centuries ago in Judea? But Jesus does come to us today in the Holy Eucharist. Some Catholics participate; some take a pass. The truth is, according to our Catholic Faith, that Jesus is constantly coming among us, especially in the unwanted, the despised, and the destitute members of our society. Our Lord comes to us in the person of every unborn child in the womb. He is trying to be born again into our world. But the abortionists reject the Son just like those wicked tenants did by destroying Him in what should be the safest sanctuary on this planet, the womb. Historically, Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Just the sound of the name of that city recalls a tender story that is repeated every Christmas. And yet within the tender story of Bethlehem there was a really rough beginning for the Holy Family. There was no room for them in the inn. In point of fact Mary and Joseph were immigrants. They were from Nazareth, far to the north. Even though Jesus was born in the ancestral city of King David, He was treated like a foreigner. There was no room for them. Was the inn really crowded that night or did the innkeeper whisper to his wife: We don t want any of those people in here! According to the latest census Lemont Township is one-third foreign-born. As Christians we need to embrace the new arrivals in spite of accidental differences such as language and culture. We need to answer the question: How would you receive Jesus if He came to us today? We need to avoid the actions of those tenants in the parable. The public life of Jesus the Christ was filled with controversy because of His preaching and teaching. His compassion for the poor and the sick aroused indignation because He did good deeds on the Sabbath. His promise of the Eucharist required His listeners to accept or to reject Him. Many turned and walked away. The rejection turned to hatred and the hatred built into a frenzy and the frenzy resulted in the crucifixion of Jesus. Like the servants in the parable the Savior of the world was treated as a criminal. Is it too much of a leap of faith for us to see the Christ in today s criminal? If so, can we not at least remember that Our Lord forgave the repentant thief, Dismas, and excused those who crucified Him by saying: They do not know what they are doing? Do we know what we are doing when we promote capital punishment? Are we no different than the tenants in the parable? How would we receive Jesus if He came to us today? The story that the Christ told two thousand years ago still has meaning for us now. God Bless Our Parish, FATHER ED GLEESON, PASTOR

3 Twenty-Seventh Ordinary Sunday Page Three FLOWERS The two large bouquets adorning the main altar were made available through the kindness of HENDRICA GHALI int. of Samy Ghali. The collection for St. James on the weekend of September 25th was $3, Hunger Awareness was $ The number of September 25th Offertory Envelopes handed in last weekend September 24 & 25 was 146. The amount of money coming out of those envelopes was $2, which averages out to $18.06 per envelope. Our many thanks to the 146 contributing families. BLESS YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED AND VALUED SUPPORT. TRAINING FOR NEW LECTORS Every year the Vicariate V Ministry Commission offers sessions for ministry training and development. Registration is free. A training session for New Lectors will be held here at St. James at Sag Bridge Church on Tuesdays, October 11 & 18 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. This two-session workshop provides new lectors with initial training that includes theology of the Word, attention to liturgical language, and the power of proclaiming the Word. Participants have the opportunity to gain practical skills through demonstration and participation. (*Participants are asked to bring a Bible for use at the training sessions). Our speaker/ instructor is Mary Ann Spina, a Pastoral Associate at Holy Cross Parish in Deerfield. She is also Vice- Chair of the board of Directors of Mayslake Ministries and a consultant in theological reflection for the University of the South. You must register to participate at least one week prior. Please contact Rita Burns at Sacred Heart Church in Palos Hills at ext. 5 or her at burns4re@aol.com. OCTOBER ROSARY MONTH Every Sunday during October at 9:30am the Altar & Rosary Sodality women will meet in the grotto and pray the rosary. EVERYONE COMING TO MASS IS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE. SPECIAL OFFERIN SPECIAL OFFERING One of the unique features of our country parish has been the golf carts. They have been a wonderful addition here, a big help transporting our seniors and those who have trouble walking up the hill for Mass. In order to keep the golf carts available not just for weekends, but for weddings and funerals, they require maintenance. Just like ourselves the carts are getting older. Winter is especially hard on the carts. In fact the plastic curtains used in the winter to keep the cold wind off the drivers and passengers all need to be replaced. Just recently two of the carts were complete overhauled for the winter. One of the carts received a new computer and the other front end work. If you own a car you know what routine maintenance is all about. In order to keep them running we are taking up a special collection on the weekend of October Let s keep our carts in good running order and part of the unique landscape that makes up our country parish of St. James. If anyone is interested in driving a cart for weekend Masses, weddings or funerals they can contact Deacon John.

4 Page Four October 2, 2005 ST. FLORA of Beaulieu FEASTDAY: OCTOBER 5 Patron of abandoned, converts, single laywomen, and victims of betrayal Flora was born in France about the year She was a devout child and later resisted all attempts on the part of her parents to find a husband for her. Fleur, or Flora, took the veil as a girl of thirteen. She was one of the 38 professed cloistered nuns of the Hospital of Beaulieu, in the diocese of Cahors (France), where she devoted herself to tending the poor and the sick in the hospital attached to the monastery. Once in the monastery she was subjected to many temptations and trials and fell into a depressed state, and was made sport of by some of her religious sisters. Yet, because she kept trying to love God, Sister Flora grew dearer and dearer to Him. Like many saints, Saint Flora was subject to the suspicions of her mother superior who could not imagine her eminent virtue and tried to catch her at fault. Saint Fleur was greatly addicted to giving alms to the poor, and the abbess thought that the young nun was taking food needed by the community to distribute it among the indigent. One day, the abbess followed the young sister and forced her to show what she was carrying in the folds of her cloak. The suspicious woman had the pleasure of admiring the superb purple-red flowers that the Lord had substituted for the charitable offerings of the saint, who from that time on has borne the name of her miracle. God blessed her with wonderful visions and the gift of knowing the future. Soon, people realized that Sister Flora was very holy. They came to ask for prayers and advice. Flora also received the privilege of suffering the pain of Christ's cross. She seemed to feel it pressing into her, making a wound in her side. She joyfully accepted this suffering out of her great love for Jesus. She had a special devotion to Christ Crucified, Our Lady of the Annunciation and St. John the Baptist. One year on the feast of All Saints, she fell into an ecstasy and took no nourishment until three weeks later on the feast of St. Cecelia. On another occasion, while meditating on the Holy Spirit, she was raised four feet from the ground and hung in the air in full view of many onlookers. She also seemed to be pierced with the arms of Our Lord's cross, causing blood to flow freely at times from her side and at others, from her mouth. Through it all, St. Flora remained humble and in complete communion with her Divine Master, rendering wise counsel to all who flocked to her because of her holiness and spiritual discernment. In 1347, she was called to her eternal reward and many miracles were worked at her tomb. Her relics are still in the church of Beaulieu. HOLY NAME PANCAKE BREAKAST An all-you-can eat PANCAKE BREAKFAST will be held on Sunday, October 9th in Saginaw Hall after all the Sunday Masses. Breakfast will consist of pancakes, bacon, sausage, coffee, tea, & juice. Cost is $3.50 (in advance). Children under age 6 eat free. Tickets purchased at the door are $4.00. OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16TH, 11:30AM TO 12:30PM All parents are invited into the classrooms to meet the teachers and to see their children s work.

5 Twenty-Seventh Ordinary Sunday Page Five FEASTDAY: OCTOBER 7 Friday, October 7th is the feast day of the Our Lady of the Rosary. The Rosary is a very powerful prayer. Popes have been encouraging people to pray the Rosary for decades. Pope St. Pius V established this feast in The purpose was to thank God for the victory of Christians over the Turks at Lepanto a victory attributed to the praying of the rosary. Clement XI extended the feast to the universal Church in The development of the rosary has a long history. First, a practice developed of praying 150 Our Fathers in imitation of the 150 Psalms. Then there was a parallel practice of praying 150 Hail Marys. Soon a mystery of Jesus' life was attached to each Hail Mary. Though Mary's giving the rosary to St. Dominic is recognized as unhistorical, the development of this prayer form owes much to the followers of St. Dominic. One of them, Alan de la Roche, was known as "the apostle of the rosary." He founded the first Confraternity of the Rosary in the 15th century. In the 16th century the rosary was developed to its present form with the 15 mysteries (joyful, sorrowful and glorious). In 2002, Pope John Paul II added the Mysteries of Light to this devotion. NOVENA OF OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY Say this prayer along with the Rosary for nine days. My dearest Mother Mary, behold me, your child, in prayer at your feet. Accept this Holy Rosary, which I offer you in accordance with your requests at Fatima, as a proof of my tender love for you, for the intentions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in atonement for the offenses committed against your Immaculate Heart, and for this special favor which I earnestly request in my Rosary Novena: (Mention your request). I beg you to present my petition to your Divine Son. If you will pray for me, I cannot be refused. I know, dearest Mother, that you want me to seek God s holy Will concerning my request. If what I ask for should not be granted, pray that I may receive that which will be of greater benefit to my soul. I offer you this spiritual Bouquet of Roses because I love you. I put all my confidence in you, since your prayers before God are most powerful. For the greater glory of God and for the sake of Jesus, your loving Son, hear and grant my prayer. Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation. BOOSTER CLUB YOU CAN BE A WINNER TOO! NEW BOOSTER CLUB membership is good for one year and costs only $20. New membership is being sold NOW! You have 36 new chances to win (from Oct. 05 to Sept. 06). 1st prize is $100, 2nd prize is $50 and 3rd prize is $25. You do not have to be a parishioner to win.

6 Page Six October 2, 2005 National Annual Life Chain 2005 Today Today, Sunday, October 2, is National Life Chain Sunday. More than 950 cities across the US and Canada are expected to participate on Sunday, October 2 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. St. James will be participating in the Life Chain at Christ Hospital in Oak lawn, ACU Health Services, Inc. in Hinsdale and/or Access Health Center Ltd. in Downers Grove. The 3 life chain locations surround abortion facilities near our Church. Bring your whole family rain or shine! Water, lawn chairs, umbrellas and strollers are welcome! Signs will be provided at each of the sites. Please join the 2005 Life Chain and stand up for Life!! Locations: Christ Hospital at 4440 S. 95th St., Oak Lawn; ACU Health Services, Inc. at 736 N. York Road, Hinsdale; and Access Health Center Ltd. at 1700 W. 75th St. Visit HOLY HOUR AT ST. CHRISTOPHER A special Holy Hour will be held at St. Christopher Church in Midlothian, IL on October 4th. All are invited to this Holy Hour to support our priests and strengthen vocations. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed in a monstrance which was blessed by Pope John Paul II this past March. The Holy Hour will include the rosary and Benediction. The Church will be open at 6:30pm and Holy Hour begins at 7:00pm. For more information call The church is located at 147th & Keeler Sts. REAVIS HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF year reunion on Oct. 7 at Gaelic Park, 6119 W. 147th., Oak Forest. Call for more information. RESPECT LIFE SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2005 Why do people have abortions? It is because they want to kill a baby? No. People kill because they are afraid, or blinded by selfishness, or confused by sin. And so they kill the child, the old man, and even the Son of God. The only antidote to this sin is goodness, and love. Pope Benedict XVI has begun his ministry by continuing the ministry of Pope John Paul II in declaring in an unequivocal way the inviolability of the human being, the inviolability of human life from its conception until natural death. The freedom to kill, he reminds us, is not true freedom, but a tyranny that reduces the human being to slavery. Free to be me, or personal autonomy run amok. Many people think the question of what is morally right depends on their own preferences and circumstances, that there is no objective moral yardstick such as the Ten Commandments. In the name of tolerance, it is said that people have a right to make up their own personal morality, except in extreme cases like torturing children or flying jets into occupied buildings. After all, who has the right to impose his values on others? Lives unworthy of living. Another dangerous attitude prevalent today is that the value of a human life is not inherent, but depends on the extend to which a person is conscious, capable of exercising and of performing actions which benefit society. On this theory, some prominent ethicists have promoted infanticide as a legal option for parents who do not want to raise a child with a disability. Ours is a culture which values efficiency and productivity, so the idea of eliminating the unproductive and burdensome sounds reasonable. Avoiding suffering at all costs. Our culture s desire to avoid suffering including sacrifice, hardship and even inconvenience leads many to view death as a form of release. Many balk at the personal sacrifice involved in loving and caring for a family member who needs special assistance. Unplanned children are aborted to escape the disruptions and sacrifices entailed in raising a child. And when we can no longer enjoy life the way we once did like the Million Dollar Baby boxer who couldn t endure a life without crowds chanting her name death is seen as a way to eliminate psychological suffering. Each of us is willed. Each of us is loved. Each of us is necessary. From the moment of conception through death and into eternity, each of us lives in relation to God, the Lord of life. The value and dignity of life does not change according to health or other circumstances. A man, even if seriously ill or disabled in the exercise of his highest functions, is and always will be a man, and he will never become a vegetable or an animal. The journey away from a culture of death and toward following Christ to eternal life goes by way of the Cross: Loving others to the point that we die to our personal pride and selfishness, our tendency to view others as obstacles or things to be used.

7 Twenty-Seventh Ordinary Sunday Page Seven VOTIVE CANDLES Votive offering for the week of October 2nd Intention of Loretta Chud Intention of Loretta Chud Roman Radzajewski Frida Kirkson Tony Wall Monday October 3 Weekday 8:15 AM Lorie Vallortigara Tuesday October 4 St. Francis of Assisi 8:15 AM Nancy Witter Wednesday 7:00PM Thursday 8:15AM Friday 8:15AM October 5 Weekday Estelle Chesson October 6 St. Flora of Beaulieu Living & Deceased Parishioners October 7 OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY Jane Molenaar Saturday October 8 Vigil: 28th Ordinary Sunday 4:30 to 5:15PM CONFESSIONS 5:30PM Leon John Pieprzyca Anniv. Sunday October 9 TWENTY-EIGHTH ORDINARY SUNAY 8:30AM Sylvia (Corcoran) & Bill Doody 10:00AM Irene Bartczak 11:30AM Joe Rzansa October 8 & 9 5:30 PM 8:30AM 10:00 AM 11:30 AM Celebrant Father Gleeson Father Schmidt Father Gleeson Father Gleeson Altar Servers K. Nicholson T.J. Nicholson K. Janociak S. Dillenburg J. Dillenburg J.H. Dillenburg B. Ahern P. Lawler D. Lawler J. Haluska R. Romaine K. Smuda Lector B. Quinn M. Dillenburg R. Lawler D. Romaine LEM Deacon John Deacon John D. Lasica D. Lasica Ushers Souls in Purgatory Prayers to be Answered Clarence Zima Helen Zima Ronald Zima LETTER FROM ST. PAUL S CHURCH September 7, 2005 This summer has been busy all about school. Since Pre-school to the fifth grade was held at our campus #2 (the old St. Michael s) all desks and materials had to be moved to the building at St. Paul. For that to happen, there was the chore of cleaning out closets and areas used for different activities during the past three years. We had to have extra men working to make all that happen. On two evenings, parents and children with vans and trucks hauled everything to the old school building. Of course it had to be on one of those hot summer nights we had this year. It was tight but we were able to open the school doors for the children on August 22 nd. Two hundred children filled the classrooms. This year will be a challenge to continue to raise the funds needed and keep enrollment up. We lost some children since families bought homes and moved out of the neighborhood. One of the three newly hired teachers is a former graduate of St. Paul s. This is a real success story that should be an inspiration for our children. The family no longer lives in the neighborhood. On the day she came to begin to organize her classroom, a proud father and mother, along with a brother, accompanied her to give a hand. It was a happy day for the family. Thanks again for the continued help. Catholic education is so important for the Hispanic children of today. With the help of your parishioners and your encouragement this becomes possible. May God continue to bless the generosity of your parish and your priestly ministry. Sincerely, Rev. R. Todd, St. Paul Church J. Stahra P. Walsh E. Liczwek N. Nowaczyk C. Hughes T. Lang F. Pearman H. Grutza D. Witter D. Butalla M. Lavery J. Pajkos R. Poynter M. Fleckenstein N. Konieczny B. Czaja