April 3, 2011 Fourth Sunday of Lent

Transcription

1 April 3, 2011 Fourth Sunday of Lent Diana Amaya Melissa Amaya Alina Andino Julia Bogusz Alanna Bonifazi Aaliyah Camacho Jenna Carlson Pamela Cave Vivian Delgado Leilani Echevarria Kelsey Fawell Nina Flores Michael Gomez Camille Guiriba Stephanie Hall Receive the Holy Spirit April 1, 2011 (Confirmation Class) Lukas Haynes Trevor Heinlein Irene Heinrich Asia Johnson Christopher Jose Lucas Kaiser Lino Kalayil Zoe Katz Sean Kelly Mary Lindahl Margaret Loch Conor Meade Maria Mora Marisol Mora Margaret Mulkern Angela Padilla Cassandra Pena Ryan Perez Abbey Porretta Matthew Richardson Courtney Rosario Melissa Salinas Steven Shaver Danny Shine Michael Soreng Joseph Spina Meghan Tynan Heather Vazquez Andrew Weernink Maylene Yee Evelyn Zaker

2 Page Two Fourth Sunday of Lent April 3, 2011 MONDAY, April 4, St. Isidore 8:30am Jack McManus, Jack Puttrich TUESDAY, April 5, St. Vincent Ferrer 8:30am Marian Patricia Lee WEDNESDAY, April 6, Lenten Weekday 8:30am Alice Godomski, Donald Bordes THURSDAY, April 7, St. John Baptist de la Salle 8:30am Edward F. & Marie Stecker Exequiel, Milagros & Elvira Armena FRIDAY, April 8, Lenten Weekday 8:30am Joseph Samansky, Anna Koestner William Paprocki SATURDAY, April 9, Lenten Weekday 8:30am Helen Sierzega, Leonard Sierzega 5:00pm Frank & Mathilde Jobst, Wanda Placek Bernice & Eugene Gaskin, Cortese Grand Kids SUNDAY, April 10, Fifth Sunday of Lent 8:00am Exequiel Armena, Judith Day 10:00am Connie & Tony Rio, Patricia Mion Irene Kolasinski, Dennis Zator 12:00pm The People of St. Robert Bellarmine Parish FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP March 19/20, 2011 Offertory 447 envelopes $7,868 Loose Collection $1,182 Total Offertory $9,050 Other Collections: Sharing Ascension/ St. Susanna 32 envelopes $ 284 Energy 15 envelopes $ 165 Lenten Almsgiving 18 envelopes $ 453 Catholic Relief Services Japan 16 envelopes $3,020 Thank you for your generosity! Please remember to pray for the souls of all our faithful departed, especially: John K. Kerin Sr. Fourth Sunday of Lent The Lord tells Samuel to go to the house of Jesse because he has chosen his king from among his sons. Samuel thinks the Lord must mean the eldest, Eliab, who is strong and handsome. God tells Samuel not to judge by appearances. He sends for the youngest son, David, who is out tending sheep. When David arrives the Lord tells Samuel to anoint David because he is the one that God has chosen to be King in Israel. Paul tells the Ephesians that they were once darkness but now are the light of the Lord. He calls them to live in the light, which produces every kind of goodness, righteousness and truth. In the gospel Jesus cures a man born blind. Because this healing takes place on the Sabbath, the Pharisees believe that Jesus cannot have come from God. The man replies that he was blind and now he sees, therefore this miraculous cure can only have come from God. The Pharisees threw him out of the Temple, but Jesus finds him and the man born blind believes and worships Jesus as the Messiah. 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a Ephesians 5:8-14 John 9:1-41 The Spirituality of Almsgiving The spirituality of almsgiving, or charity, begins with the realization that everything we have is a gift of God. We are to receive these gifts in gratitude and to use them wisely. In the scriptures all people of faith are to tithe (give ten percent) of the first fruits of their labor for the works of God. In addition, we are to make free will offerings on feast days, to share blessings in gratitude for good fortune received, and make sin offerings to atone for our failings. Both the Old and New Testament scriptures make the promise that almsgiving covers a multitude of sins. This was never to be taken as a license to commit sin and to buy our way out of the consequences. Rather, in true contrition for our sins, the spiritual principle was to make a sacrifice of our goods to show our willingness to take responsibility for our actions. Since sin separates us from God and from one another, works of charity and almsgiving are seen as a way to restore this unity and to build up the kingdom of heaven on earth. If we are practicing the discipline of fasting, we have recognized the many blessings we have received, and by voluntarily giving them up, we are able to put our resources aside for those in need. Lenten almsgiving is a deliberate sacrifice from our substance, not just another weekly envelope. Through the disciplines of Lent we come to realize that we have become dependent on things rather than on God. In the giving of alms we receive a freedom from this dependence. In opening our hearts to the needs of others we come to realize that we are all one in God. We are called to live simply so that others may simply live. St. Paul reminds us that when one suffers, we all suffer. In opening our hearts to alleviate the sufferings of others, we restore the unity of our relationship to God and experience the joy of forgiveness.

3 April 3, 2011 Fourth Sunday of Lent Page Three Today we celebrate Laetare Sunday, from the Latin word Rejoice. It is a reminder that beyond the darkness of our Lenten journey through sin and death, is the glory of the light of Christ. The scriptures call us to see beyond the darkness of our own sins and spiritual blindness and invites us to see as God sees, through the light of God s Word to the glory of the Resurrection. In today s gospel Jesus cures the man born blind. Not only does he bring about a physical restoration of the man s sight, but open s his spiritual sight so that he can see God. Christianity is a way of seeing, about having the right vision. Jesus comes into our lives to rearrange our personal ideas and give us God s ideas. Revelation means that something that was hidden is brought to the light. Jesus guides us to a vision, a way of seeing the world around us with spiritual eyes. Our vision is clouded by original sin that gives us a self-centered perspective and allows the values of the culture (the world) to form the lens through which we see. This leads to spiritual blindness, preconceptions and values that are not from God. The Lord tells Samuel, Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the Lord looks into the heart. In the Letter to the Ephesians St. Paul exhorts us to live as children of the light. Our vision should be shaped by what Christ taught, how he lived and how he acted. In the gospel story Jesus invites us to really see the kingdom of God. The Pharisees are wise and are the keepers of the Law of Moses. But their own interpretation and preconceptions of the Law, based on cultural inertia and their sense of their own righteousness, prevent them from seeing the truth. At first the blind man merely states the truth: I don t know if this man is a sinner. I do know that I was born blind and now I see. But he goes on to the realization that no one can restore sight to the blind except God; therefore Jesus must come from God. After being expelled from the synagogue he is found by Jesus and asked directly do you believe?. He replies I do believe and worships him. Curiously Jesus says I came into the world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and that those who do see might become blind. Jesus will judge each of us. But he gives us the grace to see, to be redeemed, if we will humble ourselves to seek and live his will. He tells the Pharisees that because they claim to see their sin remains. They are so sure that, because they are the Law keepers, they are the ones to interpret and mediate God s actions. They see because they know the Law; but they become blind because they refuse to see the grace of God. This stubborn willfulness is a part of all of us. God gives us the grace to see in a new way if we are willing to trust him. Jesus reminds the Pharisees constantly that it is the Spiri that gives life not the law. In fact, he says, the letter of the Law kills. Jesus invites us to share his vision of God s love, based on compassion, mutual forgiveness and love. He calls us to live in harmony with one another as he is in perfect harmony with the Father. We welcome two new Ministers of Care, Kathleen Kelly and Isabel Yebra. Kathy and Isabel recently completed the Ministry of Care training program and were commissioned (mandated) last Friday to bring Communion to the sick and the homebound of our parish. I thank them for their commitment to serve in this vital ministry. If you know of any of your neighbors who would like to receive regular communion calls at home, please call the rectory and leave a message for Ed Stecker, our Ministry of Care Coordinator. Today we celebrate Girl Scout Sunday, with a special blessing at the 10 a.m. family mass. The girls have worked hard to learn the values of faith, friendship and service. They will be hosting our complimentary Coffee and Donuts social, as well as selling their wonderful cookies to help fund their programs, after all the masses today. Today we also celebrate the 2nd Scrutiny at the noon mass with our newly Elect. As they enter more deeply into the paschal mystery we are invited to pray with them for strength to persevere on their journey, to overcome our human weaknesses and be prepared to share the Lord s resurrection at Easter. The final scrutiny rite will be celebrated next Sunday at the 8 a.m. mass. We welcome LeFort Jean-Louis from the Maison Fortune Orphanage in Haiti. Jean-Louis will be speaking at all the masses this weekend, sharing his story and his work. The second collection today, representing our Lenten sacrificial almsgiving, will be used to support the children. Information on the orphanage can be found on page four. Two of our older children, Jack O Brien and Michelle Oblea, will receive their First Communion next Sunday at the 10 a.m. family mass. Please keep Jack, Michelle and their families in your prayers. Rejoice! And have a blessed Lent. Sincerely, Fr. Neil

4 Page Four Fourth Sunday of Lent April 3, 2011 Maison Fortune Orphanage The Maison Fortune (may-zhon for-tune-ay) Orphanage is located in the central highlands of Haiti in the town of Hinche (pronounced inch ). Opened in 2002 through the efforts of four parishes in the Richmond, VA diocese, the orphanage now serves 200 children. Due to the earthquake last January, many people were displaced from Port-au-Prince and have moved up into the highlands. The demands on the orphanage, as well as the limited resources of the people of Hinche, have increased dramatically. Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere, with annual per capita income under $400. The unemployment rate is over 80%. Life expectancy is only 54 years. There is no public education system. Medical expenses are less than $20 per person per year. There is very little foreign investment due to the lack of infrastructure. One child in ten dies before the age of five, primarily due to a lack of clean drinking water. Most schools and hospitals are run by the Catholic church or by religious orders, funded primarily through charitable donations from private citizens in the United States, Canada and France. The Orphanage provides housing, schooling, food, medicine, clothing, clean water and hope. Next weekend the Parent s Association will be selling Easter Candy after all masses in back of the church. Please be supportive, all profits benefit the school. Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction All are invited to take advantage of this grace. Eucharistic Adoration will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 13 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The practice of adoration is about more than private prayer. True adoration is about being present before God and then taking God's presence out into the world. Adoration will begin immediately after the 8:30 a.m. morning mass. The church will be open all day for quiet prayer. Benediction will be celebrated at 5 p.m. Happy Club News Our next meeting is Thursday, April 7, 1-3 p.m. Don t forget to bring prizes for our Bingo table. SCHOOL NEWS Summer Program Registration for the new Summer Program is now open. More information and all registration forms are available from the Summer Program page of the school website at or from the school office, Space is limited, please register early. Science Fair Students from St. Robert Bellarmine School had great success at the Regional Science Fair, held at the Museum of Science and Industry on Saturday, March 12, Five seventh grade students who competed placed in the top groups, competing against almost five hundred students, many of whom were in eighth grade and high school. (pictured from left to right) Ryan Perez, Julia Bogusz, Evelyn Zaker, Joseph Spina, Maggie Loch, and Trevor Heinlein Maggie Loch placed in the top group, earning a Gold Medal for her project The Effects of Oil Spills on Aquatic Plants. Trevor Heinlein was awarded a Gold Certificate for high scores on his project "Can Fruits Produce Electrical Energy?" The Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago awarded him an invitation to a presentation to be given at their downtown office. He also won a $50 U.S. Savings Bond for his outstanding use of technology. Julia Bogusz was awarded a Gold Certificate for her project Are Childproof Containers Really Childproof? Joseph Spina was awarded a Silver Certificate for his project "Tornado Replication: Is It Possible?" Evie Zaker was awarded a Bronze Certificate for her project "Do All People See the Same Colors with Different Amounts of Light?'"

5 April 3, 2011 Fourth Sunday of Lent Page Five MISERICORDIA CANDY DAYS Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30 Please volunteer two hours of your time to make a difference for more than 600 children and adults with developmental and physical disabilities. To volunteer call Tessa , candydays@misericordia.com, or go to To make a $5 donation TEXT MIS to Thank you! Is God calling you to walk in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi? The Secular Franciscan Order is a religious order with the Catholic Church open to diocesan clergy and to married and single members of the laity. Secular Franciscans work together in local fraternities to deepen their own spirituality and to strive to conform their lives more fully to the Gospel of Christ. If this appeals to you, please call Marty Hobbs at or Dale Blum at for more information about St. Juliana Fraternity, SFO. See for complete fraternity listing. MINISTER OF CARE TRAINING COURSE This course is designed with the person in mind who is new to parish ministry. Each session will focus on a particular aspect of the Ministry of Care; however, the unifying thread woven through all is a commitment to helping you develop the skills and confidence needed to be a source of comfort to those who are sick. Completion of this course qualifies you to receive the Archdiocesan mandate to bring communion to the sick, homebound and hospitalized of your parish. Sessions run two hours and will include a talk given by an experienced facilitator accompanied by group discussion and/or an exercise to help you practice a particular skill. Time: Thursday evenings, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Place: Resurrection Medical Center (RMC) April 28, May 5 & 12 Marian Hall - Blessed Celine Room 7435 W. Talcott Road, Chicago, Illinois Advocate Lutheran General Hospital (ALGH) May 19 & Dempster St., Park Ridge, IL Classroom 1041, 10th floor, off (B) elevators For more information about this program, or to register, please contact Ed Stecker at the rectory Restoring HOPE It s what matters most. The Man Born Blind Reached Out. Joann was in a dark place. She had supported herself for several years with a good job in the suburbs. Now she was homeless with her young child. Joann hadn t counted on the costs of raising a child on her own, and when her car broke down, causing her to lose her job, she quickly found herself in financial trouble. Luckily, Joann reached out to Catholic Charities and its transitional housing program. Today, Joann has savings and is gradually taking over payment of all her expenses. I m so grateful for this program.i feel God has brought me here, she says. Your gift to the Catholic Charities Collection on Mother s Day will help more people like Joann move from darkness to light Are You a Gardener? Some parishioners are interested in starting a community garden. The city is willing to provide a space and the supplies, all we need are people with green thumbs who want to plan and plant and nurture it through the year. If you are interested in helping out, please call Del Norwood at 773/ Join friends for an overnight retreat: Part 3 of the Rocked By God Series The Trinity April 15, 2011, 7:00 p.m. until April 16, 2011, 3:00 p.m. Our Lady of Victory Parish, 4434 N. Laramie 6th, 7th and 8th grade students and their friends are invited to an amazing overnight retreat. Join students from Our Lady of Victory School along with Mr. Zak and students from St. Pats in St. Charles, St. Thomas More and St. Gall for a fun filled weekend of praise and activities. Small group activities, music, dance and fellowship are lead by High School students. To register contact Margie at or olvmom95@gmail.com.

6 Page Six Fourth Sunday of Lent April 3, 2011 Remember to Pray for the protection & safety of all our family and friends serving in the Armed Forces. Edward Bell (Army) Staff Sergeant Timothy R. Hogan (Marines) Captain Patrick J. Collins (Army) Raymond Weernink (Navy) Captain Christopher Engelhardt (Air Force) Sergeant Scott Pekar (Marines) Captain Dan Allen (Army) Brigadier Gen. Tau aika Uta atu (Tongan Defense) Sergeant Joseph Konieczny (Army) Mike Janson (Navy) Lance Corporal Kurt Williams (Marines) Specialist Sean Cheker (Army) Bernard Brennan, (Marines) First Lieutenant Brian G. Lutz (Army) Private 1 Michael Barry (Army) Martin Durcan (Navy) Private 2 Michael Rosenthal (Army) Private James A. Gaudio (Army) Ewa Dabrowski (Navy) Private Colleen McDonald (Army) Corp. Armando Bolivar (Marines) Micha Barcus (Coastguard) Captain Kevin P. O Grady (Air Force) Captain Albert Eiffes (Air Force) EM3 Abraham Ubi (Navy) Airman Daniel Roger Cimon (Air Force) READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday, April 4 2:45-4 p.m. Children s Choir 7 p.m. School Board Mtg. (MR) Tuesday, April 5 6:30 p.m. Novena (C) 7 p.m. Lenten Prayer Service (C) 7 p.m. PPC Mtg. (R) Wednesday, April p.m. Contemporary Ensemble (C) 7-10 p.m. SPRED Prep. (KH) Thursday, April p.m. Happy Club Mtg. (KH) 7 p.m. RCIA (R) 7-9 p.m. Choir (C) Friday, April 8 2 p.m. & 7 p.m. Stations of the Cross (C) 7-9 p.m. Easter Bunny Social (KH) Saturday, April 9 9:30 a.m.-12 Noon Religious Education (S) 12-1:30 p.m. Catechist Luncheon (KH) 12:-1:30 p.m. Market Day Pick Up (S) After 5 p.m. Mass Easter Candy Sale (C) Sunday, April 10 8 a.m. 3rd Scrutiny-RCIA (C) 10 a.m. Family Mass 1st Communion RCIC, Religious Education (C) After All Masses Easter Candy Sale Monday: Is 65:17-21; Jn 4:43-54 Tuesday: Ez 47:1-9, 12; Jn 5:1-16 Wednesday: Is 49:8-15, Jn 5:17-30 Thursday: Ex 32:7-14; Jn 5:31-47 Friday: Wis 2:1a, 12-22; Jn 7:1-2, 10, Saturday: Jer 11:18-20; Jn 7:40-53 Sunday: Ez 37:12-14; Rom 8:8-11; Jn 11:1-45 [3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45] Just a Reminder Articles for Palm Sunday, April 17, 2011 bulletin are due by Wednesday, April 6. Articles for Easter Sunday, April 24, 2011 are due by Wednesday, April 13. Spirit Wash All young adults between the ages of 18 and 30 are invited to pray, relax, and enjoy each other s company at Seton House International {St. Bartholomew Parish Convent} each fourth Sunday of the month at 4933 W. Patterson Ave. It s a SPIRIT WASH from 6:30-9:00 p.m. We share scripture, quiet prayer in the chapel, and enjoy each other s company over snacks and such. Transportation to and from St. Bartholomew can be provided. Call Sr. Barbara Ann Smelko at Seton House at , x206. MASS SCHEDULE april 9/10 MASS PRESIDER SERVERS LECTORS AUXILIARY MINISTERS 5:00pm Fr. Mike Goergen Katie Griggs, Alanna Bonifazi, Anna Finnerty Matt Loudon Mark Calcagno, Tom Calcagno, Sue Calcagno 8:00am Fr. Neil Fackler James Brosnan, Melissa Salinas, Zoe Katz Kathy Caminiti Sr. Ann, Sr. Mary Lou, Bill Frere 10:00am Fr. Neil Fackler Vicki Jegen, Christopher Jose, Mary Lindahl Family Mass Rebecca Borghi, Nicole Connelly, Erin Radcliffe, Paul Eifert, Trina Eifert, Kathy Ernst, Chuck Bell 12 Noon Fr. Scott Donahue Matthew Gallardo, Brandon Greifelt, Steven Shaver Elaine Mercado Jane Hearrin, Sheelagh Spooner, Tyler Griefelt, Donna Kehoe, Nancy Kriescher, Janet Jakobsze, Mary Anne Glowacz

7 Rev. Neil E. Fackler, Pastor Rev. Scott Donahue, Resident Rev. Michael A. Goergen, Pastor Emeritus James Schiltz, Deacon Mrs. Carrie Mijal, School Principal Alan Schmitt, Coordinator of Religious Education Jean Tuohy, Music Director PARISH OFFICE AND RECTORY 4646 North Austin Avenue Chicago, Illinois Tel. 773/ Fax 773/ Website: Virginia Underwood, Secretary RECTORY OFFICE HOURS Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Closed from 12:00-1:00 p.m. for lunch) Saturday - 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday - 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. RELIGIOUS EDUCATION OFFICE Alan Schmitt, Coordinator Joyce Schoenecker, Admin. Asst West Eastwood Avenue Tel. 773/ ST. ROBERT BELLARMINE SCHOOL Mrs. Carrie Mijal, Principal 6036 West Eastwood Avenue Tel. 773/ OFFICE OF MUSIC DIRECTOR Jean Tuohy 6036 West Eastwood Avenue Tel. 773/ BULLETIN Beverly O Connor, Editor 773/ BULLETIN DEADLINE Friday by 12 Noon for the following Sunday (9 days in advance). Drop off at the rectory, -srbbulletineditor@hotmail.com or via fax to PULPIT ANNOUNCEMENT DEADLINE Friday by 6:00 p.m. in the rectory. MASS SCHEDULE Weekdays - Monday through Saturday at 8:30 a.m. Weekends - Saturday Evening at 5:00 p.m. Sundays at 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., and 12:00 noon Holy Days - 8:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. WEDDINGS Arrangements should be made with a priest or deacon at least six months in advance. Please contact the rectory for date and time availability before making other arrangements. BAPTISMS Celebrated the second and fourth Sundays of each month at 1:15 p.m. Parents need to contact the rectory to register for a baptism. Please note: there are no baptisms scheduled during the season of Lent. Preparation Class is on the last Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in the rectory. CONFESSIONS/RECONCILIATION Saturday afternoons from 4:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. or by appointment. ANOINTING OF THE SICK First Saturday of the month after the 8:30 a.m. mass. EUCHARISTIC ADORATION & BENEDICTION Third Wednesday of every month. Adoration begins after 8:30 a.m. mass. Benediction at 5 p.m. Please sign up at the rectory or call NEW PARISHIONERS Welcome to Saint Robert s! Please register at the parish rectory office. NOVENA Mother of Perpetual Help Novena is offered on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. in the church. RECITATION OF THE ROSARY Monday through Saturday at 8:00 a.m.