THE TOWER. December 24, We wish you a blessed and Merry Christmas. May the Joy of Christ fill your hearts and homes!

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1 THE TOWER December 24, 2017 Vigil of the Nativity of the Lord We wish you a blessed and Merry Christmas. May the Joy of Christ fill your hearts and homes!

Because he is generous, full of life and wants us to have life as Jesus says in the gospel of John to the fullest. Not any old life, but life to the fullest. Full of love. Full of potential.

2 HEART TO HEART pastor to parish Generous and Life-Giving God is very generous with his love. He chooses not to remain in heaven but to enter into our history, into our very condition as human beings, to take on our flesh and blood and in this manner save us. He didn t have to. But he did. Because he is generous, full of life and wants us to have life as Jesus says in the gospel of John to the fullest. Not any old life, but life to the fullest. Full of love. Full of potential. Full of blessings. Merry Christmas! For this we gather and give thanks in this great feast which recalls the nativity of the Lord Jesus. It not only recalls a past historical event, it celebrates how God is born again in our hearts by faith and how faith propels us into the life of the Holy Trinity. Father, Son and Holy Spirit, a communion of divine love. Father, Son and Holy Spirit generating, sustaining and animating all our human loving. Glory to God in the highest! And on earth, peace to people of good will! May your family be blessed by God in this holy season. May our parish family be blessed. May the world give glory to God and may men and women of good will continue to work for peace.

Hearts Alive in Worship: Liturgy and Prayer My only desire is to unite myself to God (St.

Take time in silence and thank Him for all the gifts He has given you.

We need to receive God s mercy and forgiveness first before we can give it to others. SAVE THE DATE: FR. JOHN KARTJE FAITH VS.

First and foremost, thank you to the 160+ Sacred Heart families who either adopted one of the 92 St.

Columbanus families to purchase food for their Christmas dinners. The generosity of Sacred Heart families never ceases to amaze.

Many thanks to those volunteers who helped with Christmas Drop-off last weekend, including Matthew Compton, Connor Ewing, David Burden, Patty Sanfilippo, Mary Doug Brown,

Thanks also to the all the parishioners who helped load the moving truck after the 10:30am Mass.

4 Hearts Alive in Worship: Liturgy and Prayer My only desire is to unite myself to God (St. Paul of the Cross) EVERYDAY STEWARDSHIP at SACRED HEART Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you! LUKE 1:28 Faith is a gift from God. Take time in silence and thank Him for all the gifts He has given you. Try to set aside any anger or resentment you have and really open your heart to receive the gift of God s mercy and forgiveness. We can t give what we don t have. We need to receive God s mercy and forgiveness first before we can give it to others. SAVE THE DATE: FR. JOHN KARTJE FAITH VS. SCIENCE JANUARY 25th 7pm IN THE PARISH CENTER CHRISTMAS SHARING THANK YOUS! First and foremost, thank you to the 160+ Sacred Heart families who either adopted one of the 92 St. Columbanus families for Christmas or donated funds towards the Jewel Foods gift cards which enables those 92 St. Columbanus families to purchase food for their Christmas dinners. The generosity of Sacred Heart families never ceases to amaze. You have brought so much joy and the light of Christ to these families, and they are so grateful. Many thanks to those volunteers who helped with Christmas Drop-off last weekend, including Matthew Compton, Connor Ewing, David Burden, Patty Sanfilippo, Mary Doug Brown, Kirsten Caspersen, Mike Pearson, Kathy Handelman, and Vince Bianco. You were a tremendous help to this effort! Thanks also to the all the parishioners who helped load the moving truck after the 10:30am Mass. So many people helped that the truck was packed and on the road in 15 minutes! THANK YOU! The Adult Formation team invites you to join us for a most interesting evening! Come hear Fr. John Kartje, astrophysicist, priest (Rector of Mundelein Seminary), biblical scholar and disciple of Jesus Christ, who ll speak to us on the wonders of faith versus science. Fr. Kartje, who has been a weekend presider at Sacred Heart, is uniquely qualified to talk about the relationship between faith and science with PhD s in both Astrophysics and Biblical Studies. Don t miss this special event! SPIRITUAL RESOURCES FOR THE CHRISTMAS SEASON Need of a little spiritual lift after the hustle and bustle of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? Here are some wonderful resources for your reflection during this Christmas season, which we celebrate until the Baptism of the Lord on January 8th. The US Catholic Conference of Bishops website includes lots of blessings you can use as a family: blessing of your nativity scene, your Christmas Tree, your home for the feast of the Epiphany. There is even the official proclamation of the Nativity of our Lord. Creighton University s Online Ministries has links to Christmas Prayers, a reflection on the manger, a parent s reflection on Jesus parents, celebrating Christmas alone, letting Christmas become a season, praying the aftermath of Christmas and making New Year s resolutions. You ll find these terrific resources at: CollaborativeMinistry/Advent/christmas.html

As it was last year, the Christmas tree was adorned with ornaments made by children receiving treatment at several Italian hospitals.

5 Hearts Alive in Worship: Liturgy and Prayer My only desire is to unite myself to God (St. Paul of the Cross) would have them do to you. "The crib is the evocative place where we contemplate Jesus who, taking upon himself human misery, invites us to do the same through act of mercy," Pope Francis said. As it was last year, the Christmas tree was adorned with ornaments made by children receiving treatment at several Italian hospitals. CHRISTMAS AT THE VATICAN VATICAN CITY A Nativity scene and Christmas tree, like those displayed in St. Peter's Square, are visible reminders of God's benevolence and closeness to all men and women, Pope Francis said. The traditional Christmas displays are "the signs of the heavenly Father's compassion, of his participation and closeness to humanity who experience not being abandoned in dark times, but instead visited and accompanied in their difficulties," the pope said. "Every year, the Christmas Nativity scene and tree speak to us through their symbolic language. They make more visible what is captured in the experience of the birth of the Son of God," Pope Francis said Dec. 7 in a meeting with delegations from Poland and Italy, responsible respectively for the 2017 Vatican Christmas tree and Nativity scene. The centerpiece of the Vatican's Christmas holiday decorations is the towering 92-foot spruce tree. Measuring nearly 33 feet in diameter, the tree was donated by the Archdiocese of Elk, Poland, and transported to the Vatican on a flatbed truck traveling more than 1,240 miles across central Europe. Thanking the members of the Polish delegation, the pope said the tree's soaring height "motivates us to reach out 'toward the highest gifts and to rise above the clouds to experience "how beautiful and joyful it is to be immersed in the light of Christ." "The tree, which comes from Poland this year, is a sign of the faith of that people who, also with this gesture, wanted to express their fidelity to the see of Peter," the pope said. The Nativity scene was donated by the Benedictine Abbey of Montevergine, located in southern Italy. Created in a traditional 18th-century Neapolitan style, it covers a surface of over 860 square feet and features 20 terracotta figures, some as tall as 6 feet. The representation of the night of Jesus' birth, the pope said, is "inspired by the works of mercy" and is a reminder "that Jesus told us: 'Do to others what you "These children, with their parents, participated in a ceramics recreational therapy program" organized by the Countess Lene Thune Foundation for young boys and girls suffering from oncological and hematological disorders, the Vatican said Oct. 25. Additionally, children from the central Italian Archdiocese of Spoleto-Norcia, which was devastated by earthquakes in 2016, also made ornaments for the Christmas tree. Pope Francis thanked the children and told them their ornaments are a personal witness of Jesus "who made himself a child like you to tell you that he loves you." The tree will remain in St. Peter's Square until the feast of the Lord's Baptism Jan. 7, the Vatican said. A YEAR IN RETROSPECT Stop by the Bulletin Board in the Gathering Space to see a picture diary of many of the wonderful liturgies and events that have taken place at Sacred Heart during Sacred Heart welcomes you to join us anytime!

Hearts Connected for Community: Parish Life Love is the beauty of the soul (St. Augustine) What does God expect of you?

The men of Sacred Heart are offering such an opportunity.

Won t you join us? You may make your reservation by calling (847) 381-1261; or e-mail bellarmine@bellarminehall.

place he went every year to think and pray in silence. But this year was different.

6 Hearts Connected for Community: Parish Life Love is the beauty of the soul (St. Augustine) What does God expect of you? Do you often wonder if the path you are on corresponds with the one God would choose for you! Perhaps a time of silent contemplation might clarify that question. The men of Sacred Heart are offering such an opportunity. The time is Friday evening February 9 through Sunday noon, February 11, and the place is at Bellarmine Hall, the Jesuit Retreat House in Barrington. Here follows the story of one man s experience. Won t you join us? You may make your reservation by calling (847) ; or bellarmine@bellarminehall.org BUSINESS OF LIFE When God calls-at the office By CLAIRE BUSHEY One snowy weekend last January, John Gallo sequestered himself at Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House in Barrington Hills, the same place he went every year to think and pray in silence. But this year was different. At the time, Gallo chaired the litigation practice at Sidley Austin, overseeing more than 100 lawyers at the Chicago firm, which brought in $1.93 billion in He ran a major pro bona program there that defended inmates sentenced to death row. Yet after 21 years at one of the country's biggest law firms, he was thinking of leaving. Gallo, 57, a lifelong Catholic, was weighing whether to pursue the top job at LAF, the city's largest legal aid nonprofit. He talked to the retreat director, and "at the end of my meeting with her, she said, 'John, I think you have a real calling.' " "That was the point in time I was like, 'OK, this is real,'" he says. "It was a very powerful sense of the presence of God. It was a powerful sense of feeling connected.'' LAF named Gallo its new executive director in June; he started work in October. WEEKLY SCRIPTURE GROUP Given the approaching holiday celebrations and the hours of the parish office, our weekly Scripture Reflection Group is on hiatus until Monday, January 8th. We wish all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We ll see you January 8th after the 8:30 a.m. Mass in the Parish Office Fireplace Room. All are welcome and encouraged to join. No experience in scripture is necessary! RESPECT LIFE PRAYER For all women preparing for birth and the tiny unborn children in their wombs, that God might teach us how to love, nurture and support them; We pray to the Lord! PAPAL TWEETS This Christmas may we be consistent in living the Gospel, welcoming Jesus into the center of our lives.

Hearts Nurtured by Faith: Education If God can work

Francis of Assisi) disabilities, many of whom are also

The cookies will be sold in the Hearts and Flour Bakery

As part of a class-wide service project in preparation

package cookies at the Misericordia bakery in Chicago

Misericordia offers a community of care that maximizes

Current families, alumni families and friends all came

It was a great way to reconnect with each other and

7 Hearts Nurtured by Faith: Education If God can work through me, he can work through anyone (St. Francis of Assisi) disabilities, many of whom are also physically challenged. The cookies will be sold in the Hearts and Flour Bakery Shop at Misericordia and all proceeds benefit the Misericordia community. LOOK WHAT S HAPPENING AT SACRED HEART SCHOOL! As part of a class-wide service project in preparation for Confirmation, the 8th graders helped make and package cookies at the Misericordia bakery in Chicago on December 6th. Misericordia offers a community of care that maximizes potential for persons with mild to profound developmental And what a party it was! The MAD FOR PLAID was a blast! Current families, alumni families and friends all came out to celebrate. It was a great way to reconnect with each other and Sacred Heart School! How about another one next year! We at Sacred Heart School feel blessed to have all of you and your children in our Sacred Heart School community. Our hope is for all of you to have a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year! See you back on Monday, January 8th!

The Pageant was performed by the third grade and was attended by all students in Religious Ed, as well as parents and other parishioners.

8 Hearts Nurtured by Faith: Education If God can work through me, he can work through anyone (St. Francis of Assisi) Religious Education Nativity Pageant Students in Sacred Heart Religious Education celebrated the third Sunday of Advent with the annual Christmas Pageant. The Pageant was performed by the third grade and was attended by all students in Religious Ed, as well as parents and other parishioners. The festivities began with the lighting of the Advent wreath led by sixth grade students, followed by a Christmas Carol Sing-along led beautifully and enthusiastically by the fourth and fifth grade. Then came the Pageant which reverently showcased the Nativity of Jesus. The performance was followed by a fun and festive Christmas party for all in attendance. Many thanks to the Pageant Directors Barb Anderson and Ed Kuffert, our music coordinators Pauline Ignas and Kathy Janega Keenan, our parent co-chairs Nicole Valente and Michele Gisczewski, our costume co- chairs Melanie Repsold, Amy Chudgar and Jessica Brosche and all the other third grade parents who assisted at practices and at the pageant. Most especially we thank our third graders who worked hard to prepare for this special, and always touching, performance. Bravo!

9 Hearts Connected for Community: Parish Life Love is the beauty of the soul (St. Augustine) STEWARDSHIP GIVING THIS WEEK AT SACRED HEART Finances At A Glance Week of 12/17/2017 YTD Actual Sunday Collection $ 358,779 YTD Budgeted Sunday Collection $ 401,242 Shortfall: ($ 42,463) Saturday, December 30 Men of Sacred Heart (MOSH) 7:30 P.M./POFR Please note that the Parish Office will be closed from December 26 through January 2. Guidelines for Gifting Securities For the convenience of those who wish to donate securities to Sacred Heart, the Church maintains an account relationship with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, DTC #0015 Account If you wish to make a tax-deductible contribution of securities, it is necessary that your securities be transferred to that account to complete the gift. Do not sell the securities while they are still registered in your name, or you will incur the capital gains tax. In order to receive due credit and confirmation for the tax-deductible contribution, it is important to notify Michelle Wasielewski, Business Manager at Sacred Heart ( ), or Jennifer Huns at Smith Barney at ( ) of your intentions prior to issuing instructions to your broker. We also have resources available through the Archdiocese of Chicago to assist with estate planning, wills and bequests, as well as planned giving. Throughout the year, your generosity helps keep your parish solvent while at the same time, helps the parish staff to provide a place of worship, education and community. We thank you in advance for your thoughtful gift which makes it all possible! As the end of 2017 approaches, we would like to once again thank you, our generous parishioners, for your support of our Legacy of the Heart campaign. Your pledges have exceeded our goal by more than 15% and we continue to receive new pledges! We are happy to let you know that we have arranged with the Archdiocese to have all further correspondence regarding the campaign reference our Legacy of the Heart campaign, as opposed to To Teach Who Christ Is. Our sincere hope is that this change will eliminate any confusion. Be assured, we are monitoring pledges and payments closely and reconciling our numbers with those of the Archdiocese on a monthly basis to ensure that Sacred Heart receives the full amount of the pledges and payments that you so generously have made and continue to make. Father Steve and Michelle Wasielewski

10 SCHEDULE Monday, December 25 THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD 10:00am Parishioners of Sacred Heart Tuesday, December 26 Saint Stephen, The First Martyr 7:00am Evelyn Kubasiak 8:30am Deceased Members of the Mariano Family Wednesday, December 27 Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist 7:00am Roger Constanzo 8:30am Parishioners of St. Columbanus Thursday, December 28 7:00am 8:30am Sigita Lipova Friday, December 29 7:00am 8:30am Albert Smith Mass Intentions The Holy Innocents, Martyrs Fifth Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord Saturday, December 30 Sixth Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord 8:30am 5:00pm Carl LaMarr and Agnes Gresick Sunday, December 31 THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH 7:30am Philomena Cardaropoli 9:00am Raleigh Charles Oldfield 10:30am Parishioners of Sacred Heart 4:30pm Anna-Jean Anderson Monday, January 1 SOLEMNITY OF MARY, THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD 10:00am Parishioners of Sacred Heart MINISTERS OF CARE Thursday, December 28 Lake Cook/Christine Kengott Glen Oaks/Frieda Baker/June Hocter LITURGICAL MINISTERS December 30-31, January 1 THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH 5:00pm Saturday, December 30 Presider Fr. Cassidy Greeter(s) Dan O Rourke, Patty Sanfilippo Servers Lily Bowman, Nick Bowman Lector(s) Catherine Lehman Eucharistic Ministers Sheila Devlin, Deb Kubasiak, Dan Kubasiak Cantor Saturday Choir 7:30am Sunday, December 31 Presider Fr. Cassidy Greeter(s) Rae Fritz Servers Luke Campbell, Michael Smylie Lector(s) Roberta Olshansky Eucharistic Ministers Bernadette Broccolo, Nancy Kehoe, Roberta Olshansky Cantor Dan MacDonald 9:00am Presider Fr. Lanza/Deacon McNulty (Preaching) Greeter(s) Mary Newton, (1) Volunteer Needed Servers Paul Craddock, Ryan Craddock Lector(s) Josephine Olson Eucharistic Ministers Robert Maganuco, Mary Newton, Josephine Olson Cantor Bernadette Garza 10:30am Presider Fr. Lanza/Deacon McNulty (Preaching) Greeter(s) Frieda Baker, Jim Harrington Servers Timmy Ledwon, Aiden Marin Lector(s) Barbara Anderson Eucharistic Ministers Mary Jo Bushell, Marijo Erzinger, A. J. Leonard Kay Madden, Pat Rupp Cantor Sacred Heart Choir 4:30pm Presider Fr. Cassidy Greeter(s) Lynn Finneke Servers Andrew Burden, Danny Burden Lector(s) Chris Hartman Eucharistic Ministers James Collins, Lynn Finneke, Dan Hagedorn Cantor Dan MacDonald SOLEMNITY OF MARY, THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD 10:00am Monday, January 1 Presider Fr. Theis Greeter(s) Kay Madden, Claudia Mann Servers Nora Hartvigsen, Lily Hartvigsen Lector(s) Barbara Anderson Eucharistic Ministers Kay Madden, Claudia Mann, Marion Powers Cantor Shannon Barker Keys

11 SACRED HEART PARISH CONTACT INFORMATION Pastoral Staff Rev. Steven M. Lanza, Pastor Associate Pastor-Rev. Dean Resident-Rev. Dan Pastor Emeritus Rev. Robert J. Heidenreich Pastoral Associate Judy Pyke Permanent Deacons Michael J. McNulty Gerry Keenan Director of Music Todd Gresick Liturgy Coordinator/Children s Choir Kathy Janega Keenan kjanega@shparish.com Business Manager/Assistant to the Pastor Michelle Wasielewski mwasielewski@shparish.com Sacristan Coordinator June Hocter jkhocter@comcast.net Marketing & Communications Coordinator (School)-Mindi Craddock-mindicraddock@gmail.com Principal Kristen Fink 1095 Gage Street kfink@shwschool.org Director of Religious Education Sue Lehocky 1077 Tower Road slehocky@shparish.com Support Staff Accounting/Census/Contributions/Tuition Cindy Atsaves catsaves@shparish.com Accounting/Census/Contributions/Tuition Suzie Danstrom sdanstrom@shparish.com Administrative Assistant & Bulletin Editor Irene Riggilo iriggilo@shparish.com Religious Education Administrative Assistant Jeanne Morette jmorette@shparish.com Religious Education Administrative Assistant Debbie Perkins dperkins@shparish.com Parish Office /Fax / Monday Friday 8:30am 4:30pm School Office : Religious Education Office: Visit our website Find us on Facebook & Follow us on

12 CHURCH NAME AND NUMBER Sacred Heart Church #862 ADDRESS 1077 Tower Road Winnetka, Illinois PHONE CONTACT PERSON Irene Riggilo SOFTWARE Microsoft Publisher 2010 Adobe Acrobat DC Windows 7 NUMBER OF PAGES SENT = 12 THANK YOU! SUNDAY DATE OF BULLETIN December 24, 2017

THE TOWER. December 31, Feast of the Holy Family. Happy New Year to all! The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

THE TOWER. December 31, Feast of the Holy Family. Happy New Year to all! The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph THE TOWER December 31, 2017 The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Feast of the Holy Family Happy New Year to all! HEART TO HEART pastor to parish Holy Family This weekend we celebrate the Holy Family